Abayarathna, T & Webb, JK 2021, 'Do Incubation Temperatures Affect the Preferred Body Temperatures of Hatchling Velvet Geckos?', Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 9, p. 727602.
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In many lizards, a mother’s choice of nest site can influence the thermal and hydric regimes experienced by developing embryos, which in turn can influence key traits putatively linked to fitness, such as body size, learning ability, and locomotor performance. Future increases in nest temperatures predicted under climate warming could potentially influence hatchling traits in many reptiles. In this study, we investigated whether future nest temperatures affected the thermal preferences of hatchling velvet geckos, Amalosia lesueurii. We incubated eggs under two fluctuating temperature treatments; the warm treatment mimicked temperatures of currently used communal nests (mean = 24.3°C, range 18.4–31.1°C), while the hot treatment (mean = 28.9°C, range 20.7–38.1°C) mimicked potential temperatures likely to occur during hot summers. We placed hatchlings inside a thermal gradient and measured their preferred body temperatures (Tbs) after they had access to food, and after they had fasted for 5 days. We found that hatchling feeding status significantly affected their preferred Tbs. Hatchlings maintained higher Tbs after feeding (mean = 30.6°C, interquartile range = 29.6–32.0°C) than when they had fasted for 5 d (mean = 25.8°C, interquartile range = 24.7–26.9°C). Surprisingly, we found that incubation temperatures did not influence the thermal preferences of hatchling velvet geckos. Hence, predicting how future changes in nest temperatures will affect reptiles will require a better understanding of how incubation and post-hatchling environments shape hatchling phenotypes.
Abiero, AR & Bradfield, LA 2021, 'The contextual regulation of goal-directed actions', Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, vol. 41, pp. 57-62.
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Goal-directed actions typically transfer readily between contexts, but this is not always the case. Goal-directed actions do not transfer across contexts just after they are initially learned, or when multiple, competing response-outcome contingencies exist, or when the context is highly emotionally salient. Goal-directed actions are, thus, context-dependent under each of these conditions. Here we review the studies that have led to these findings, and discuss the potentially unique psychological mechanisms that could underlie the context-dependency of goal-directed actions in each instance.
Aboulkheyr Es, H, Bigdeli, B, Zhand, S, Aref, AR, Thiery, JP & Warkiani, ME 2021, 'Mesenchymal stem cells induce PD‐L1 expression through the secretion of CCL5 in breast cancer cells', Journal of Cellular Physiology, vol. 236, no. 5, pp. 3918-3928.
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AbstractVarious factors in the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulate the expression of PD‐L1 in cancer cells. In TME, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a crucial role in tumor progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. Emerging evidence suggests that MSCs can modulate the immune‐suppression capacity of TME through the stimulation of PD‐L1 expression in various cancers; nonetheless, their role in the induction of PD‐L1 in breast cancer remained elusive. Here, we assessed the potential of MSCs in the stimulation of PD‐L1 expression in a low PD‐L1 breast cancer cell line and explored its associated cytokine. We assessed the expression of MSCs‐related genes and their correlation with PD‐L1 across 1826 breast cancer patients from the METABRIC cohort. After culturing an ER+/differentiated/low PD‐L1 breast cancer cells with MSCs conditioned‐medium (MSC‐CM) in a microfluidic device, a variety of in‐vitro assays was carried out to determine the role of MSC‐CM in breast cancer cells' phenotype plasticity, invasion, and its effects on induction of PD‐L1 expression. In‐silico analysis showed a positive association between MSCs‐related genes and PD‐L1 expression in various types of breast cancer. Through functional assays, we revealed that MSC‐CM not only prompts a phenotype switch but also stimulates PD‐L1 expression at the protein level through secretion of various cytokines, especially CCL5. Treatment of MSCs with cytokine inhibitor pirfenidone showed a significant reduction in the secretion of CCL5 and consequently, expression of PD‐L1 in breast cancer cells. We concluded that MSCs‐derived CCL5 may act as a PD‐L1 stimulator in breast cancer.
Abraham, J, Ng, R, Morelato, M, Tahtouh, M & Roux, C 2021, 'Automatically classifying crime scene images using machine learning methodologies', Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation, vol. 39, pp. 301273-301273.
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Abuel, L, Bartsch, F, Berry, A, Buffet, J-C, Cuccaro, S, van-Esch, P, Guerard, B, Holt, SA, Marchal, J, Mutti, P, Ollivier, K, Pentenero, J, Platz, M, Robert, A, Roulier, D & Spedding, J 2021, 'First measurements with the new 3He-filled Monoblock Aluminium Multitube neutron detector developed at the ILL for ANSTO PLATYPUS reflectometer', Journal of Neutron Research, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 53-67.
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A detector upgrade was carried out on the PLATYPUS instrument dedicated to neutron reflectometry at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The new detector, developed in the framework of a research collaboration between the ILL and ANSTO, is based on the Monoblock Aluminium Multi-tube (MAM) detector design already in use on several reflectometers and SANS instruments at the ILL. This article provides a technical description of the mechanical design and read-out electronics of the PLATYPUS detector and its commissioning on the PLATYPUS instrument. The main detector performance parameters have been measured and are presented here as well as the characterisation methods and the results of several reflectometry measurements. These measurements show an improvement in experimental data quality resulting from high positional resolution, high detection efficiency and reduced neutron scattering background in the 2.5–19 Å neutron wavelength range used in PLATYPUS instrument.
Acharya, SK, Galli, E, Mallinson, JB, Bose, SK, Wagner, F, Heywood, ZE, Bones, PJ, Arnold, MD & Brown, SA 2021, 'Stochastic Spiking Behavior in Neuromorphic Networks Enables True Random Number Generation', ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 13, no. 44, pp. 52861-52870.
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There is currently a great deal of interest in the use of nanoscale devices to emulate the behaviors of neurons and synapses and to facilitate brain-inspired computation. Here, it is shown that percolating networks of nanoparticles exhibit stochastic spiking behavior that is strikingly similar to that observed in biological neurons. The spiking rate can be controlled by the input stimulus, similar to 'rate coding' in biology, and the distributions of times between events are log-normal, providing insights into the atomic-scale spiking mechanism. The stochasticity of the spiking behavior is then used for true random number generation, and the high quality of the generated random bit-streams is demonstrated, opening up promising routes toward integration of neuromorphic computing with secure information processing.
Adams, FG, Pokhrel, A, Brazel, EB, Semenec, L, Li, L, Trappetti, C, Paton, JC, Cain, AK, Paulsen, IT & Eijkelkamp, BA 2021, 'Acinetobacter baumannii Fatty Acid Desaturases Facilitate Survival in Distinct Environments', ACS Infectious Diseases, vol. 7, no. 8, pp. 2221-2228.
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Adil, M, Mahmud, MAP, Kouzani, AZ & Khoo, S 2021, 'Energy trading among electric vehicles based on Stackelberg approaches: A review', Sustainable Cities and Society, vol. 75, pp. 103199-103199.
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Ahmadi, VE, Butun, I, Altay, R, Bazaz, SR, Alijani, H, Celik, S, Warkiani, ME & Koşar, A 2021, 'The effects of baffle configuration and number on inertial mixing in a curved serpentine micromixer: Experimental and numerical study', Chemical Engineering Research and Design, vol. 168, pp. 490-498.
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Recently, the application of micromixers in microfluidic systems including chemical and biological assays has been widely accomplished. Passive micromixers, benefitting from the low-cost and a less-complex fabrication process, rely solely on their geometry. In particular, Dean vortices generated in curved microchannels enhance the mixing performance through chaotic advection. To improve the mixing performance at relatively low Reynolds numbers (i.e. 1 ≤ Re ≤ 50), this study introduces baffles into the side walls of curved serpentine micromixers with curvature angles of 280°, which constantly agitate, stretch and fold the fluids streams. Six different baffle configurations were designed and the effects of geometry and the number of baffles were investigated both experimentally and numerically. According to the experimental results, while the maximum outlet mixing index of the micromixer with no baffles was 0.61, that of the micromixer with quasi-rectangular baffles was 0.98 at a low Reynolds number of 20, indicating the major contribution of the generated chaotic advection by baffles. Furthermore, numerical results, which were in good agreement with experimental results, shed more light onto the mechanisms involved in micromixing in terms of the flow behavior and mixing index.
Ahmed, W, Sheikh, JA, Ahmad, S, Farjana, SH & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'Impact of PV system orientation angle accuracy on greenhouse gases mitigation', Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, vol. 23, pp. 100815-100815.
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Ahmed, W, Sheikh, JA, Nouman, M, Ullah, MF & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'Techno-economic analysis for the role of single end energy user in mitigating GHG emission', Energy, Sustainability and Society, vol. 11, no. 1.
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Abstract Background Households, as end energy users, consume grid electricity to meet their energy demands. However, grids across the globe for energy production are majorly based on fossil fuel technology and make the highest contributions to global warming and climate change due to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. This generic study aims to investigate the minute role of a single-end energy consumer in GHG mitigation by switching to a rooftop PV system to meet his energy demands and trading surplus energy to the grid through its techno-economic analysis. Method For the study impact, NASA Meteorological Data are used to select an ideal single energy user equipped with a 10-kW PV system based on annual average daily solar radiation and ambient temperature through MATLAB/Simulink, for 11 populous cities in Pakistan. Helioscope software is used to select tilt and azimuthal angles to maximize the solar radiation intercept. Afterward, RETScreen software is used for cost, financial and GHG analysis. Result and conclusion A single end energy user equipped with a 10-kW PV system switched to a green energy source from a fossil fuel-based grid has the potential to avoid the burning of 3570.6 L of gasoline by producing 16,832 kWh of green energy per annum, while financially recovering the 10-kW PV system’s 7337$ grid-tied investment in 5 years (equity) and in 9 years (equity) in a 9077$ stand-alone system over its 25-year life. This approach provides relief to end energy users from high priced grid electricity through environmental friendliness by mitigating 8.3 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions per annum from energy production, while providing reli...
Ahrens, CW, Challis, A, Byrne, M, Leigh, A, Nicotra, AB, Tissue, D & Rymer, P 2021, 'Repeated extreme heatwaves result in higher leaf thermal tolerances and greater safety margins', New Phytologist, vol. 232, no. 3, pp. 1212-1225.
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SummaryThe frequency and severity of heatwave events are increasing, exposing species to conditions beyond their physiological limits. Species respond to heatwaves in different ways, however it remains unclear if plants have the adaptive capacity to successfully respond to hotter and more frequent heatwaves.We exposed eight tree populations from two climate regions grown under cool and warm temperatures to repeated heatwave events of moderate (40°C) and extreme (46°C) severity to assess adaptive capacity to heatwaves.Leaf damage and maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) were significantly impacted by heatwave severity and growth temperatures, respectively; populations from a warm‐origin avoided damage under moderate heatwaves compared to those from a cool‐origin, indicating a degree of local adaptation. We found that plasticity to heatwave severity and repeated heatwaves contributed to enhanced thermal tolerance and lower leaf temperatures, leading to greater thermal safety margins (thermal tolerance minus leaf temperature) in a second heatwave.Notably, while we show that adaptation and physiological plasticity are important factors affecting plant adaptive capacity to thermal stress, plasticity of thermal tolerances and thermal safety margins provides the opportunity for trees to persist among fluctuating heatwave exposures.
Ajani, PA, Petrou, K, Larsson, ME, Nielsen, DA, Burke, J & Murray, SA 2021, 'Phenotypic trait variability as an indication of adaptive capacity in a cosmopolitan marine diatom', Environmental Microbiology, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 207-223.
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SummaryDetermining the adaptive capacity of marine phytoplankton is important in predicting changes in phytoplankton responses to ocean warming. Phytoplankton may consist of high levels of standing phenotypic and genetic variability, the basis of rapid evolution; however, few studies have quantified trait variability within and amongst closely related diatom species. Using 35 clonal cultures of the ubiquitous marine diatom Leptocylindrus isolated from six locations, spanning 2000 km of the south‐eastern Australian coastline, we found evidence of significant intraspecific morphological and metabolic trait variability, which for 8 of 9 traits (growth rate, biovolume, C:N, silica deposition, silica incorporation rate, chl‐a, and photosynthetic efficiency under dark adapted, growth irradiance, and high‐light adaptation) were greater within a species than between species. Moreover, only two traits revealed a latitudinal trend with strains isolated from lower latitudes showing significantly higher silicification rates and protein:lipid content compared to their higher latitude counterparts. These data mirror recent studies on diatom intraspecific genetic diversity, which has found comparable levels of genetic diversity at a single site to those thousands of kilometres apart, and provide evidence of a functional role of diatom diversity that will allow for rapid adaptation via ecological selection on standing variation in response to changing conditions.
Ajani, PA, Verma, A, Kim, JH, Woodcock, S, Nishimura, T, Farrell, H, Zammit, A, Brett, S & Murray, SA 2021, 'Using qPCR and high-resolution sensor data to model a multi-species Pseudo-nitzschia (Bacillariophyceae) bloom in southeastern Australia', Harmful Algae, vol. 108, pp. 102095-102095.
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Harmful algal blooms, including those caused by the toxic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia, can have significant impacts on human health, ecosystem functioning and ultimately food security. In the current study we characterized a bloom of species of Pseudo-nitzschia that occurred in a south-eastern Australian oyster-growing estuary in 2019. Using light microscopy, combined with molecular (ITS/5.8S and LSU D1-D3 rDNA regions) and toxicological evidence, we observed the bloom to consist of multiple species of Pseudo-nitzschia including P. cf. cuspidata, P. hasleana, P. fraudulenta and P. multiseries, with P. cf. cuspidata being the only species that produced domoic acid (3.1 pg DA per cell). As several species of Pseudo-nitzschia co-occurred, only one of which produced DA, we developed a rapid, sensitive and efficient quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay to detect only species belonging to the P. pseudodelicatissima complex Clade I, to which P. cf. cuspidata belongs, and this indicated that P. cuspidata or closely related strains may have dominated the Pseudo-nitzschia community at this time. Finally, using high resolution water temperature and salinity sensor data, we modeled the relationship between light microscopy determined abundance of P. delicatissima group and environmental variables (temperature, salinity, rainfall) at two sites within the estuary. A total of eight General Linear Models (GLMs) explaining between 9 and 54% of the deviance suggested that the temperature (increasing) and/or salinity (decreasing) data were generally more predictive of high cell concentrations than the rainfall data at both sites, and that overall, cell concentrations were more predictive at the more oceanic site than the more upstream site, using this method. We conclude that the combination of rapid molecular methods such as qPCR and real-time sensor data modeling, can provide a more rapid and effective early warning of harmful algal blooms of specie...
Ajmal, AB, Alam, M, Khaliq, AA, Khan, S, Qadir, Z & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'Last Line of Defense: Reliability Through Inducing Cyber Threat Hunting With Deception in SCADA Networks', IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 126789-126800.
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There exists a gap between existing security mechanisms and their ability to detect advancing threats. Antivirus and EDR (End Point Detection and Response) aim to detect and prevent threats; such security mechanisms are reactive. This approach did not prove to be effective in protecting against stealthy attacks. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) security is crucial for any country. However, SCADA is always an easy target for adversaries due to a lack of security for heterogeneous devices. An attack on SCADA is mainly considered a national-level threat. Recent research on SCADA security has not considered 'unknown threats,' which has left a gap in security. The proactive approach, such as threat hunting, is the need of the hour. In this research, we investigated that threat hunting in conjunction with cyber deception and kill chain has countervailing effects on detecting SCADA threats and mitigating them. We have used the concept of 'decoy farm' in the SCADA network, where all attacks are engaged. Moreover, we present a novel threat detection and prevention approach for SCADA, focusing on unknown threats. To test the effectiveness of approach, we emulated several SCADA, Linux and Windows based attacks on a simulated SCADA network. We have concluded that our approach detects and prevents the attacker before using the current reactive approach and security mechanism for SCADA with enhanced protection for heterogeneous devices. The results and experiments show that the proposed threat hunting approach has significantly improved the threat detection ability.
Akkaya Hocagil, T, Cook, RJ, Jacobson, SW, Jacobson, JL & Ryan, LM 2021, 'Propensity Score Analysis for a Semi-Continuous Exposure Variable: A Study of Gestational Alcohol Exposure and Childhood Cognition', Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A: Statistics in Society, vol. 184, no. 4, pp. 1390-1413.
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AbstractPropensity score methodology has become increasingly popular in recent years as a tool for estimating causal effects in observational studies. Much of the related research has been directed at settings with binary or discrete exposure variables with more recent work involving continuous exposure variables. In environmental epidemiology, a substantial proportion of individuals is often completely unexposed while others may experience heavy exposure leading to an exposure distribution with a point mass at zero and a heavy right tail. We suggest a new approach to handle this type of exposure data by constructing a propensity score based on a two-part model and show how this model can be used to more reliably adjust for covariates of a semi-continuous exposure variable. We also consider the case when a misspecified propensity score is used in a regression adjustment and derive an explicit form of the bias. We show that the potential bias gets smaller as the estimated propensity score gets closer to the true expectation of the exposure variable given a set of observed covariates. While this result pertains to a more general setting, we use it to evaluate the potential bias in settings in which the true exposure has a semi-continuous structure. We also evaluate and compare the performance of our proposed method through simulation studies relative to a simpler linear regression-based propensity score for a continuous exposure variable as well as through direct covariate adjustment. Overall, we find that using a propensity score constructed via a two-part model significantly improves the regression estimate when the exposure variable is semi-continuous in nature. Specifically when the proportion of non-exposed subjects is high and the effects of covariates on exposure and outcome are strong, the proposed two-part propensity score method outperforms the more standard competing methods. We illustrate our method using data ...
Akter, A, Itabashi, E, Kakizaki, T, Okazaki, K, Dennis, ES & Fujimoto, R 2021, 'Genome Triplication Leads to Transcriptional Divergence of FLOWERING LOCUS C Genes During Vernalization in the Genus Brassica', Frontiers in Plant Science, vol. 11.
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The genusBrassicaincludes oil crops, vegetables, condiments, fodder crops, and ornamental plants.Brassicaspecies underwent a whole genome triplication event after speciation between ancestral species ofBrassicaand closely related genera includingArabidopsis thaliana. Diploid species such asBrassica rapaandBrassica oleraceahave three copies of genes orthologous to eachA. thalianagene, although deletion in one or two of the three homologs has occurred in some genes. The floral transition is one of the crucial events in a plant’s life history, and time of flowering is an important agricultural trait. There is a variation in flowering time within species of the genusBrassica, and this variation is largely dependent on a difference in vernalization requirements. InBrassica, like inA. thaliana, the key gene of vernalization isFLOWERING LOCUS C(FLC). InBrassicaspecies, the vernalization response including the repression ofFLCexpression by cold treatment and the enrichment of the repressive histone modification tri-methylated histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) at theFLClocus is similar toA. thaliana.B. rapaandB. oleraceaeach have four paralogs ofFLC, and the allotetraploid species,Brassica napus, has nine paralogs. The increased number of paralogs makes the role ofFLCin vernalization more complicated; in a single plant, paralogs vary in the expression level ofFLCbefore and ...
AlAjmi, MF, Khan, S, Choudhury, A, Mohammad, T, Noor, S, Hussain, A, Lu, W, Eapen, MS, Chimankar, V, Hansbro, PM, Sohal, SS, Elasbali, AM & Hassan, MI 2021, 'Impact of Deleterious Mutations on Structure, Function and Stability of Serum/Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinase 1: A Gene to Diseases Correlation', Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, vol. 8, p. 780284.
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Serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) is a Ser/Thr protein kinase involved in regulating cell survival, growth, proliferation, and migration. Its elevated expression and dysfunction are reported in breast, prostate, hepatocellular, lung adenoma, and renal carcinomas. We have analyzed the SGK1 mutations to explore their impact at the sequence and structure level by utilizing state-of-the-art computational approaches. Several pathogenic and destabilizing mutations were identified based on their impact on SGK1 and analyzed in detail. Three amino acid substitutions, K127M, T256A, and Y298A, in the kinase domain of SGK1 were identified and incorporated structurally into original coordinates of SGK1 to explore their time evolution impact using all-atom molecular dynamic (MD) simulations for 200 ns. MD results indicate substantial conformational alterations in SGK1, thus its functional loss, particularly upon T256A mutation. This study provides meaningful insights into SGK1 dysfunction upon mutation, leading to disease progression, including cancer, and neurodegeneration.
Alder, R, Xiao, L & Fu, S 2021, 'Comparison of commercial surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates for the analysis of cocaine', Drug Testing and Analysis, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 944-952.
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AbstractThe use of illicit drugs across the world causes issues for users, healthcare workers and the public. Therefore, rapid and reliable onsite testing methods to detect these drugs are required. In this study, seven commercial surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates A–G were compared for the analysis of cocaine. These substrates were compared using scanning electron microscopy to study the surface structure and Raman spectroscopy and to determine if there was any enhancement of the cocaine bands. Substrate B provided the best enhancement of known cocaine vibrational bands, allowing the detection down to concentrations of 1 ng/mL in standards and 10 ng/mL extracted from the oral fluid. The results showed that SERS is an ideal method for future rapid onsite analysis of illicit drugs in oral fluid. Commercial SERS substrates were compared for the analysis of cocaine. Substrate B provided the best result and was further tested with lower concentrations and extracts from the oral fluid. The application to oral fluid testing could prove useful for future onsite analysis.
Alderdice, R, Suggett, DJ, Cárdenas, A, Hughes, DJ, Kühl, M, Pernice, M & Voolstra, CR 2021, 'Divergent expression of hypoxia response systems under deoxygenation in reef‐forming corals aligns with bleaching susceptibility', Global Change Biology, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 312-326.
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AbstractExposure of marine life to low oxygen is accelerating worldwide via climate change and localized pollution. Mass coral bleaching and mortality have recently occurred where reefs have experienced chronic low oxygen events. However, the mechanistic basis of tolerance to oxygen levels inadequate to sustain normal functioning (i.e. hypoxia) and whether it contributes to bleaching susceptibility, remain unknown. We therefore experimentally exposed colonies of the environmentally resilient Acropora tenuis, a common reef‐building coral from the Great Barrier Reef, to deoxygenation–reoxygenation stress that was aligned to their natural night–day light cycle. Specifically, the treatment involved removing the ‘night‐time O2 buffer’ to challenge the inherent hypoxia thresholds. RNA‐Seq analysis revealed that coral possess a complete and active hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐mediated hypoxia response system (HRS) homologous to other metazoans. As expected, A. tenuis exhibited bleaching resistance and showed a strong inducibility of HIF target genes in response to deoxygenation stress. We applied this same approach in parallel to a colony of Acropora selago, known to be environmnetally susceptible, which conversely exhibited a bleaching phenotype response. This phenotypic divergence of A. selago was accompanied by contrasting gene expression profiles indicative of varied effectiveness of their HIF‐HRS. Based on our RNA‐Seq analysis, we propose (a) that the HIF‐HRS is central for corals to manage deoxygenation stress and (b) that key genes of this system (and the wider gene network) may contribute to variation in coral bleaching susceptibility. Our analysis suggests that heat shock protein (hsp) 70 and 90 are important for low oxygen stress tolerance and further highlights how hsp90 expression might ...
Alemao, CA, Budden, KF, Gomez, HM, Rehman, SF, Marshall, JE, Shukla, SD, Donovan, C, Forster, SC, Yang, IA, Keely, S, Mann, ER, El Omar, EM, Belz, GT & Hansbro, PM 2021, 'Impact of diet and the bacterial microbiome on the mucous barrier and immune disorders', Allergy, vol. 76, no. 3, pp. 714-734.
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AbstractThe prevalence of chronic immune and metabolic disorders is increasing rapidly. In particular, inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity, diabetes, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have become major healthcare and economic burdens worldwide. Recent advances in microbiome research have led to significant discoveries of associative links between alterations in the microbiome and health, as well as these chronic supposedly noncommunicable, immune/metabolic disorders. Importantly, the interplay between diet, microbiome and the mucous barrier in these diseases has gained significant attention. Diet modulates the mucous barrier via alterations in gut microbiota, resulting in either disease onset/exacerbation due to a “poor” diet or protection against disease with a “healthy” diet. In addition, many mucosa‐associated disorders possess a specific gut microbiome fingerprint associated with the composition of the mucous barrier, which is further influenced by host‐microbiome and inter‐microbial interactions, dietary choices, microbe immigration and antimicrobials. Our review focuses on the interactions of diet (macronutrients and micronutrients), gut microbiota and mucous barriers (gastrointestinal and respiratory tract) and their importance in the onset and/or progression of major immune/metabolic disorders. We also highlight the key mechanisms that could be targeted therapeutically to prevent and/or treat these disorders.
Alhamami, T, Chowdhury, P, Gomes, N, Carr, M, Veltman, T, Khazandi, M, Mollinger, J, Deutscher, A, Turni, C, Mahdi, L, Venter, H, Abraham, S, Djordjevic, S & Trott, D 2021, 'First Emergence of Resistance to Macrolides and Tetracycline Identified in Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida Isolates from Beef Feedlots in Australia', Microorganisms, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 1322-1322.
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Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) causes high morbidity and mortality in beef cattle worldwide. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring of BRD pathogens is critical to promote appropriate antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine for optimal treatment and control. Here, the susceptibility of Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multicoda isolates obtained from BRD clinical cases (deep lung swabs at post-mortem) among feedlots in four Australian states (2014–2019) was determined for 19 antimicrobial agents. The M. haemolytica isolates were pan-susceptible to all tested agents apart from a single macrolide-resistant isolate (1/88; 1.1%) from New South Wales (NSW). Much higher frequencies of P. multocida isolates were resistant to tetracycline (18/140; 12.9%), tilmicosin (19/140; 13.6%), tulathromycin/gamithromycin (17/140; 12.1%), and ampicillin/penicillin (6/140; 4.6%). Five P. multocida isolates (3.6%), all obtained from NSW in 2019, exhibited dual resistance to macrolides and tetracycline, and a further two Queensland isolates from 2019 (1.4%) exhibited a multidrug-resistant phenotype to ampicillin/penicillin, tetracycline, and tilmicosin. Random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing identified a high degree of genetic homogeneity among the M. haemolytica isolates, whereas P. multocida isolates were more heterogeneous. Illumina whole genome sequencing identified the genes msr(E) and mph(E)encoding macrolide resistance, tet(R)-tet(H) or tet(Y) encoding tetracycline resistance, and blaROB-1 encoding ampicillin/penicillin resistance in all isolates exhibiting a corresponding resistant phenotype. The exception was the tilmicosin-resistant, tulathromycin/gamithromycin-susceptible phenotype identified in two Queensland isolates, the genetic basis of which could not be determined. These results confirm the first emergence of AMR in M. haemolytica and P. multocida from BRD cases in Australia, which should be closely monitored.
Ali, S, Gupta, A, Shafiei, M & Langford, SJ 2021, 'Recent Advances in Perylene Diimide-Based Active Materials in Electrical Mode Gas Sensing', Chemosensors, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 30-30.
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This review provides an update on advances in the area of electrical mode sensors using organic small molecule n-type semiconductors based on perylene. Among small organic molecules, perylene diimides (PDIs) are an important class of materials due to their outstanding thermal, chemical, electronic, and optical properties, all of which make them promising candidates for a wide range of organic electronic devices including sensors, organic solar cells, organic field-effect transistors, and organic light-emitting diodes. This is mainly due to their electron-withdrawing nature and significant charge transfer properties. Perylene-based sensors of this type show high sensing performance towards various analytes, particularly reducing gases like ammonia and hydrazine, but there are several issues that need to be addressed including the selectivity towards a specific gas, the effect of relative humidity, and operating temperature. In this review, we focus on the strategies and design principles applied to the gas-sensing performance of PDI-based devices, including resistive sensors, amperometric sensors, and operating at room temperature. The device properties and sensing mechanisms for different analytes, focusing on hydrazine and ammonia, are studied in detail, and some future research perspectives are discussed for this promising field. We hope the discussed results and examples inspire new forms of molecular engineering and begin to open opportunities for other rylene diimide classes to be applied as active materials.
Ali, S, Jameel, MA, Gupta, A, Langford, SJ & Shafiei, M 2021, 'Capacitive humidity sensing performance of naphthalene diimide derivatives at ambient temperature', Synthetic Metals, vol. 275, pp. 116739-116739.
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We report for the first-time the development of capacitive type humidity sensors employing naphthalene diimide derivatives (NDI) as sensing layer. Three different naphthalene diimide derivatives bearing imide side chains of different hydrophilicity were designed, synthesised and characterised. X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses gave useful information about structural and thermal behaviour of the newly developed materials, indicating their crystallinity and stability. Atomic force microscopy analysis revealed a variety of morphologies in thin films as a result of the structural properties of the NDIs. Devices bearing NDI layers were fabricated on ceramic substrates with gold interdigitated electrodes spaced 200 µm apart. Humidity sensing performance, as a change in capacitance, was studied upon exposure to a wide range of relative humidity levels (0–95%) at ambient temperature. Importantly, an increase in the capacitance of the sensors was recorded with an increase in relative humidity. The developed sensors exhibited high sensitivity, good long-term stability, excellent reproducibility, and low hysteresis. The sensor performance was also tested against different operating frequencies (250 Hz–2 kHz) to improve linearity, illustrating directions for optimised performance. These results confirm that sensors based on NDIs possess better sensing performance to other types of reported capacitive humidity sensors.
Ali, S, Jameel, MA, Harrison, CJ, Gupta, A, Evans, RA, Shafiei, M & Langford, SJ 2021, 'Enhanced Capacitive Humidity Sensing Performance at Room Temperature via Hydrogen Bonding of Cyanopyridone-Based Oligothiophene Donor', Chemosensors, vol. 9, no. 11, pp. 320-320.
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Cyanopyridone-based oligothiophene donors with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic characters have been evaluated as active layers within simple capacitive devices for humidity sensing at room temperature. Surface studies using atomic force microscopy revealed a self-assembled nanofibrous network with a thin needle-like structure for the terminal hydroxy example (CP6), devoid in the methyl example (CP1). The sensing performance of each sensor was investigated over a broad range of relative humidity levels as a function of capacitance at room temperature. The sensor CP6 demonstrated favourable features such as high sensitivity (12.2 pF/%RH), quick response/recovery (13 s/20.7 s), wide working range of relative humidity (10%–95% RH), low hysteresis (0.57%), outstanding recyclability, and excellent long-term stability. From the results obtained, hydrophilicity and hydrogen bonding appear to play a vital role in enhancing humidity sensing performance, leading to possible new design directions for simple organic semiconductor-based sensors.
Alijani, H, Rezk, AR, Khosravi Farsani, MM, Ahmed, H, Halim, J, Reineck, P, Murdoch, BJ, El-Ghazaly, A, Rosen, J & Yeo, LY 2021, 'Acoustomicrofluidic Synthesis of Pristine Ultrathin Ti3C2Tz MXene Nanosheets and Quantum Dots', ACS Nano, vol. 15, no. 7, pp. 12099-12108.
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Allam, VSRR, Faiz, A, Lam, M, Rathnayake, SNH, Ditz, B, Pouwels, SD, Brandsma, C, Timens, W, Hiemstra, PS, Tew, GW, Neighbors, M, Grimbaldeston, M, van den Berge, M, Donnelly, S, Phipps, S, Bourke, JE & Sukkar, MB 2021, 'RAGE and TLR4 differentially regulate airway hyperresponsiveness: Implications for COPD', Allergy, vol. 76, no. 4, pp. 1123-1135.
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AbstractBackgroundThe receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) is implicated in COPD. Although these receptors share common ligands and signalling pathways, it is not known whether they act in concert to drive pathological processes in COPD. We examined the impact of RAGE and/or TLR4 gene deficiency in a mouse model of COPD and also determined whether expression of these receptors correlates with airway neutrophilia and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in COPD patients.MethodsWe measured airway inflammation and AHR in wild‐type, RAGE−/−, TLR4−/− and TLR4−/−RAGE−/− mice following acute exposure to cigarette smoke (CS). We also examined the impact of smoking status on AGER (encodes RAGE) and TLR4 bronchial gene expression in patients with and without COPD. Finally, we determined whether expression of these receptors correlates with airway neutrophilia and AHR in COPD patients.ResultsRAGE−/− mice were protected against CS‐induced neutrophilia and AHR. In contrast, TLR4−/− mice were not protected against CS‐induced neutrophilia and had more severe CS‐induced AHR. TLR4−/−RAGE−/− mice were not protected against CS‐induced neutrophilia but were partially protected against CS‐induced mediator release and AHR. Current smoking was associated with significantly lower AGER and TLR4 expression irrespective of COPD status, possibly reflecting negative feedback regulation. However, consistent with preclinical findings, AGER expression cor...
Alqudah, A, Eastwood, K-A, Jerotic, D, Todd, N, Hoch, D, McNally, R, Obradovic, D, Dugalic, S, Hunter, AJ, Holmes, VA, McCance, DR, Young, IS, Watson, CJ, Robson, T, Desoye, G, Grieve, DJ & McClements, L 2021, 'FKBPL and SIRT-1 Are Downregulated by Diabetes in Pregnancy Impacting on Angiogenesis and Endothelial Function', Frontiers in Endocrinology, vol. 12.
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Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth. Although the mechanisms leading to these pregnancy complications are still poorly understood, aberrant angiogenesis and endothelial dysfunction play a key role. FKBPL and SIRT-1 are critical regulators of angiogenesis, however, their roles in pregnancies affected by diabetes have not been examined before in detail. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the role of FKBPL and SIRT-1 in pre-gestational (type 1 diabetes mellitus, T1D) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Placental protein expression of important angiogenesis proteins, FKBPL, SIRT-1, PlGF and VEGF-R1, was determined from pregnant women with GDM or T1D, and in the first trimester trophoblast cells exposed to high glucose (25 mM) and varying oxygen concentrations [21%, 6.5%, 2.5% (ACH-3Ps)]. Endothelial cell function was assessed in high glucose conditions (30 mM) and following FKBPL overexpression. Placental FKBPL protein expression was downregulated in T1D (FKBPL; p<0.05) whereas PlGF/VEGF-R1 were upregulated (p<0.05); correlations adjusted for gestational age were also significant. In the presence of GDM, only SIRT-1 was significantly downregulated (p<0.05) even when adjusted for gestational age (r=-0.92, p=0.001). Both FKBPL and SIRT-1 protein expression was reduced in ACH-3P cells in high glucose conditions associated with 6.5%/2.5% oxygen concentrations compared to experimental normoxia (21%; p<0.05). FKBPL overexpression in endothelial cells (HUVECs) exacerbated reduction in tubule formation compared to empty vector control, in high glucose conditions (junctions; p<0.01, branches; p<0.05). In conclusion, FKBPL and/or SIRT-1 downregulation in response to diabetic pregnancies may have a key role in the development of vascular dysfunction and associated complications affected by impaired placental angiogenesis.
Alqudah, A, Wedyan, M, Qnais, E, Jawarneh, H & McClements, L 2021, 'Plasma Amino Acids Metabolomics' Important in Glucose Management in Type 2 Diabetes', Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 12, p. 695418.
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The perturbation in plasma free amino acid metabolome has been observed previously in diabetes mellitus, and is associated with insulin resistance as well as the onset of cardiovascular disease in this population. In this study, we investigated, for the first time, changes in the amino acid profile in a group of people with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D) with normal BMI, from Jordan, who were only managed on metformin. Twenty one amino acids were evaluated in plasma samples from 124 people with T2D and 67 healthy controls, matched for age, gender and BMI, using amino acids analyser. Total amino acids, essential amino acids, non-essential amino acids and semi-essential amino acids were similar in T2D compared to healthy controls. Plasma concentrations of four essential amino acids were increased in the presence of T2D (Leucine, p < 0.01, Lysine, p < 0.001, Phenylalanine, p < 0.01, Tryptophan, p < 0.05). On the other hand, in relation to non-essential amino acids, Alanine and Serine were reduced in T2D (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively), whereas Aspartate and Glutamate were increased in T2D compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively). A semi-essential amino acid, Cystine, was also increased in T2D compared to healthy controls (p < 0.01). Citrulline, a metabolic indicator amino acid, demonstrated lower plasma concentration in T2D compared to healthy controls (p < 0.01). These amino acids were also correlated with fasting blood glucose and HbA1c (p < 0.05). Glutamate, glycine and arginine were correlated with the duration of metformin treatment (
Alsahafi, S & Woodcock, S 2021, 'Local analysis for a mutual inhibition in presence of two viruses in a chemostat', Nonlinear Dynamics and Systems Theory, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 337-359.
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A competition with mutual inhibition is a form of direct competition between the populations of two species where each actively inhibits the other. In this paper, we consider a mathematical system of ordinary differential equations describing two species, with mutual inhibition, competing for a limiting substrate in the presence of two viruses. A detailed local qualitative analysis of the restriction of the system to the attractor set is carried out. We prove that for general nonlinear response functions, the Competitive Exclusion Principle is still fulfilled so that at most one species can survive. Initial species concentrations are important in determining which is the winning species. The results obtained were validated by numerical simulations using Matlab software.
Alsahafi, S & Woodcock, S 2021, 'Mathematical Study for Chikungunya Virus with Nonlinear General Incidence Rate', Mathematics, vol. 9, no. 18, pp. 2186-2186.
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In this article, we examine the dynamics of a Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection model with two routes of infection. The model uses four categories, namely, uninfected cells, infected cells, the CHIKV virus, and antibodies. The equilibrium points of the model, which consist of the free point for the CHIKV and CHIKV endemic point, are first analytically determined. Next, the local stability of the equilibrium points is studied, based on the basic reproduction number (R0) obtained by the next-generation matrix. From the analysis, it is found that the disease-free point is locally asymptotically stable if R0≤1, and the CHIKV endemic point is locally asymptotically stable if R0>1. Using the Lyapunov method, the global stability analysis of the steady-states confirms the local stability results. We then describe our design of an optimal recruitment strategy to minimize the number of infected cells, as well as a nonlinear optimal control problem. Some numerical simulations are provided to visualize the analytical results obtained.
Alsahafi, S & Woodcock, S 2021, 'Mutual inhibition in presence of a virus in continuous culture', Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 3258-3273.
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Al-Sanea, MM, Al-Ansary, GH, Elsayed, ZM, Maklad, RM, Elkaeed, EB, Abdelgawad, MA, Bukhari, SNA, Abdel-Aziz, MM, Suliman, H & Eldehna, WM 2021, 'Development of 3-methyl/3-(morpholinomethyl)benzofuran derivatives as novel antitumor agents towards non-small cell lung cancer cells', Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 987-999.
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al-Zubaidi, Y, Chen, Y, Khalilur Rahman, M, Umashankar, B, Choucair, H, Bourget, K, Chung, L, Qi, Y, Witting, PK, Anderson, RL, O'Neill, GM, Dunstan, CR, Rawling, T & Murray, M 2021, 'PTU, a novel ureido-fatty acid, inhibits MDA-MB-231 cell invasion and dissemination by modulating Wnt5a secretion and cytoskeletal signaling', Biochemical Pharmacology, vol. 192, pp. 114726-114726.
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Migration and invasion promote tumor cell metastasis, which is the leading cause of cancer death. At present there are no effective treatments. Epidemiological studies have suggested that ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may decrease cancer aggressiveness. In recent studies epoxide metabolites of ω-3 PUFA exhibited anti-cancer activity, although increased in vivo stability is required to develop useful drugs. Here we synthesized novel stabilized ureido-fatty acid ω-3 epoxide isosteres and found that one analogue - p-tolyl-ureidopalmitic acid (PTU) - inhibited migration and invasion by MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo in xenografted nu/nu mice. From proteomics analysis of PTU-treated cells major regulated pathways were linked to the actin cytoskeleton and actin-based motility. The principal finding was that PTU impaired the formation of actin protrusions by decreasing the secretion of Wnt5a, which dysregulated the Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway and actin cytoskeletal dynamics. Exogenous Wnt5a restored invasion and Wnt/PCP signalling in PTU-treated cells. PTU is the prototype of a novel class of agents that selectively dysregulate the Wnt/PCP pathway by inhibiting Wnt5a secretion and actin dynamics to impair MDA-MB-231 cell migration and invasion.
Amerizadeh, A, Mashhadian, A, Farahnak-Ghazani, M, Arjmandi, H, Rad, MA, Shamloo, A, Vosoughi, M & Nasiri-Kenari, M 2021, 'Bacterial Receiver Prototype for Molecular Communication Using Rhamnose Operon in a Microfluidic Environment', IEEE Transactions on NanoBioscience, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 426-435.
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An, H, Richardson, A, Rajasekariah, P, Zhong, L, Fernando, BSM, Macmillan, A, Klotzsch, E, Bryant, K, Kaakoush, NO & Tedla, N 2021, 'Nuclear Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-like Receptor A3 Is Monomeric and Is Involved in Multiple Layers of Regulated Gene Expression and Translation', Journal of Proteome Research, vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 3078-3089.
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Anburajan, P, Kim, Y, Rice, SA & Oh, H-S 2021, 'Bacterial signaling and signal responses as key factors in water and wastewater treatment', Journal of Water Process Engineering, vol. 44, pp. 102434-102434.
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Andersson, J, Fuller, M, Ashenden, A, Holt, SA & Köper, I 2021, 'Increasing Antibiotic Susceptibility: The Use of Cationic Gold Nanoparticles in Gram-Negative Bacterial Membrane Models', Langmuir, vol. 37, no. 32, pp. 9735-9743.
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Ansari, S, Walsh, JC, Bottomley, AL, Duggin, IG, Burke, C & Harry, EJ 2021, 'A Newly Identified Prophage Gene, ymfM , Causes SOS-Inducible Filamentation in Escherichia coli', Journal of Bacteriology, vol. 203, no. 11.
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Filamentation is an important biological mechanism that aids in the survival, pathogenesis, and antibiotic resistance of bacteria within different environments, including pathogenic bacteria such as uropathogenic Escherichia coli . Here, we have identified a bacteriophage-encoded cell division inhibitor which contributes to the filamentation that occurs during the SOS response.
Argyle, PA, Walworth, NG, Hinners, J, Collins, S, Levine, NM & Doblin, MA 2021, 'Multivariate trait analysis reveals diatom plasticity constrained to a reduced set of biological axes', ISME Communications, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 59.
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Abstract Trait-based approaches to phytoplankton ecology have gained traction in recent decades as phenotypic traits are incorporated into ecological and biogeochemical models. Here, we use high-throughput phenotyping to explore both intra- and interspecific constraints on trait combinations that are expressed in the cosmopolitan marine diatom genus Thalassiosira. We demonstrate that within Thalassiosira, phenotypic diversity cannot be predicted from genotypic diversity, and moreover, plasticity can create highly divergent phenotypes that are incongruent with taxonomic grouping. Significantly, multivariate phenotypes can be represented in reduced dimensional space using principal component analysis with 77.7% of the variance captured by two orthogonal axes, here termed a ‘trait-scape’. Furthermore, this trait-scape can be recovered with a reduced set of traits. Plastic responses to the new environments expanded phenotypic trait values and the trait-scape, however, the overall pattern of response to the new environments was similar between strains and many trait correlations remained constant. These findings demonstrate that trait-scapes can be used to reveal common constraints on multi-trait plasticity in phytoplankton with divergent underlying phenotypes. Understanding how to integrate trait correlational constraints and trade-offs into theoretical frameworks like biogeochemical models will be critical to predict how microbial responses to environmental change will impact elemental cycling now and into the future.
Ashcroft, SP, Fletcher, G, Philp, AM, Jenkinson, C, Das, S, Hansbro, PM, Atherton, PJ & Philp, A 2021, 'Diet-induced vitamin D deficiency reduces skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration', Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 249, no. 2, pp. 113-124.
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Vitamin D deficiency is associated with symptoms of skeletal muscle myopathy including muscle weakness and fatigue. Recently, vitamin D-related metabolites have been linked to the maintenance of mitochondrial function within skeletal muscle. However, current evidence is limited to in vitro models and the effects of diet-induced vitamin D deficiency upon skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in vivo have received little attention. In order to examine the role of vitamin D in the maintenance of mitochondrial function in vivo, we utilised an established model of diet-induced vitamin D deficiency in C57BL/6J mice. Mice were either fed a control diet (2200 IU/kg i.e. vitamin D replete) or a vitamin D-deplete (0 IU/kg) diet for periods of 1, 2 and 3 months. Gastrocnemius muscle mitochondrial function and ADP sensitivity were assessed via high-resolution respirometry and mitochondrial protein content via immunoblotting. As a result of 3 months of diet-induced vitamin D deficiency, respiration supported via complex I + II (CI + IIP) and the electron transport chain (ETC) were 35 and 37% lower when compared to vitamin D-replete mice (P < 0.05). Despite functional alterations, citrate synthase activity, AMPK phosphorylation, mitofilin, OPA1 and ETC subunit protein content remained unchanged in response to dietary intervention (P > 0.05). In conclusion, we report that 3 months of diet-induced vitamin D deficiency reduced skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration in C57BL/6J mice. Our data, when combined with previous in vitro observations, suggest that vitamin D-mediated regulation of mitochondrial function may underlie the exacerbated muscle fatigue and performance deficits observed during vitamin D deficiency.
Augustine, R, Dan, P, Hasan, A, Khalaf, IM, Prasad, P, Ghosal, K, Gentile, C, McClements, L & Maureira, P 2021, 'Stem cell-based approaches in cardiac tissue engineering: controlling the microenvironment for autologous cells', Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, vol. 138, pp. 111425-111425.
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Augustine, R, Kalva, SN, Ahmad, R, Zahid, AA, Hasan, S, Nayeem, A, McClements, L & Hasan, A 2021, '3D Bioprinted cancer models: Revolutionizing personalized cancer therapy', Translational Oncology, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 101015-101015.
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After cardiovascular disease, cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide with devastating health and economic consequences, particularly in developing countries. Inter-patient variations in anti-cancer drug responses further limit the success of therapeutic interventions. Therefore, personalized medicines approach is key for this patient group involving molecular and genetic screening and appropriate stratification of patients to treatment regimen that they will respond to. However, the knowledge related to adequate risk stratification methods identifying patients who will respond to specific anti-cancer agents is still lacking in many cancer types. Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology, have been extensively used to generate representative bioengineered tumor in vitro models, which recapitulate the human tumor tissues and microenvironment for high-throughput drug screening. Bioprinting process involves the precise deposition of multiple layers of different cell types in combination with biomaterials capable of generating 3D bioengineered tissues based on a computer-aided design. Bioprinted cancer models containing patient-derived cancer and stromal cells together with genetic material, extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors, represent a promising approach for personalized cancer therapy screening. Both natural and synthetic biopolymers have been utilized to support the proliferation of cells and biological material within the personalized tumor models/implants. These models can provide a physiologically pertinent cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions by mimicking the 3D heterogeneity of real tumors. Here, we reviewed the potential applications of 3D bioprinted tumor constructs as personalized in vitro models in anticancer drug screening and in the establishment of precision treatment regimens.
Awal, MA, Hossain, MS, Debjit, K, Ahmed, N, Nath, RD, Habib, GMM, Khan, MS, Islam, MA & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'An Early Detection of Asthma Using BOMLA Detector', IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 58403-58420.
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Badal, FR, Sarker, SK, Fahim, SR, Das, SK, Islam, MR, Kouzani, AZ & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'Robust Controller Design for Tracking Enhancement of a Grid-Tied PV-Battery Microgrid Under Industrial Loads', IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1-5.
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The concept of microgrid (MG) empowers the application of renewable energy sources (RES) to meet the increasing demand of electrical power, which further inspires us to enable this technology under the study of inverter-based industrial loads (IL). The inclusion of inverter-based IL adds some noises in the MGs dynamics because of the non-linear characteristics of inverter and parametric uncertainty of loads. The above constraints impose extra-challenges to maintain reliable operation of the MGs. In this paper, integral based linear quadratic gaussian (ILQG) controller is proposed to maintain the tracking operation via the control of inverter used with ILs, which is further connected with the dc bus which is regulated by the inverter in grid side and dc-dc converter applied in utility grid, PV and battery, respectively. The proposed ILQG controller is designed based on the proper combination of linear quadratic gaussian (LQG) and integral controller and its performance is evaluated by changing the operating conditions, which includes the switching of supplying power from PV, and both PV and battery. Additionally, the investigation under the variation of the IL parameters and comparison with resonant controller is used to ensure the robust performance of the ILQG controller.
Baffour, B, Brown, JJ & Smith, PWF 2021, 'Latent Class Analysis for Estimating an Unknown Population Size – with Application to Censuses', Journal of Official Statistics, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 673-697.
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Abstract Estimation of the unknown population size using capture-recapture techniques relies on the key assumption that the capture probabilities are homogeneous across individuals in the population. This is usually accomplished via post-stratification by some key covariates believed to influence individual catchability. Another issue that arises in population estimation from data collected from multiple sources is list dependence, where an individual’s catchability on one list is related to that of another list. The earlier models for population estimation heavily relied upon list independence. However, there are methods available that can adjust the population estimates to account for dependence among lists. In this article, we propose the use of latent class analysis through log-linear modelling to estimate the population size in the presence of both heterogeneity and list dependence. The proposed approach is illustrated using data from the 1988 US census dress rehearsal.
Bagheri, S, Huang, Y, Walker, PD, Zhou, JL & Surawski, NC 2021, 'Strategies for improving the emission performance of hybrid electric vehicles', Science of The Total Environment, vol. 771, pp. 144901-144901.
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Low emission vehicle technologies need widespread adoption in the transport sector to overcome its significant decarbonisation challenges. Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) represent an intermediate technology between pure electric vehicles and internal combustion engines that have proven capability in reducing petroleum consumption. HEV customers often cite improved fuel economy as a major benefit from adopting this technology; however, outstanding questions remain regarding their respective emission levels. Through an extensive literature study, we show that several issues remain with HEV emissions performance which stem from frequent high-power cold starts, engine calibration issues and inefficient operating conditions for catalytic converters. HEVs have more NOx, HC, CO and particle number emissions compared to conventional vehicles by up to 21.0, 5.8, 9.0 and 23.3 times, respectively. Improved engine control algorithms, after-treatment design and thermal design of three-way catalysts emerge as research priorities for improving the emissions performance of HEVs.
Bake, A, Rezoanur Rahman, M, Evans, PJ, Cortie, M, Nancarrow, M, Abrudan, R, Radu, F, Khaydukov, Y, Causer, G, Callori, S, Livesey, KL, Mitchell, D, Pastuovic, Z, Wang, X & Cortie, D 2021, 'Structure and magnetism of ultra-small cobalt particles assembled at titania surfaces by ion beam synthesis', Applied Surface Science, vol. 570, pp. 151068-151068.
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Bao, G, Wen, S, Lin, G, Yuan, J, Lin, J, Wong, K-L, Bünzli, J-CG & Jin, D 2021, 'Learning from lanthanide complexes: The development of dye-lanthanide nanoparticles and their biomedical applications', Coordination Chemistry Reviews, vol. 429, pp. 213642-213642.
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© 2020 Elsevier B.V. Coordination chemistry has been widely studied in lanthanide complexes, where organic ligands are used to chelate individual lanthanide ions, and the complexes are broadly used in analytical, biological, and clinical applications. Significant progress has recently been made to exploit the hybrid structure of lanthanide doped inorganic nanoparticles “coated” with organic dyes. This attributes to the fast developments of nanoscience and technology centred around well-controlled nanocrystal synthesis and engineering, with a variety of shape, size, composition and structures towards the desirable functions. There are a lot of similarities between the two forms of lanthanide materials, waiting for a systematic analysis to guide the emerging field of nanocrystal-dye hybrids. Therefore, we survey here the principles for the design of dye-lanthanide energy transfer systems and analyse the remarkable successes made in hybrid dye-lanthanide nanosystems.
Bao, G, Wen, S, Wang, W, Zhou, J, Zha, S, Liu, Y, Wong, K-L & Jin, D 2021, 'Enhancing Hybrid Upconversion Nanosystems via Synergistic Effects of Moiety Engineered NIR Dyes', Nano Letters, vol. 21, no. 23, pp. 9862-9868.
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Hybrid upconversion nanosystems have been reported to improve the low absorption efficiency of lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). However, the low quantum yield and poor photostability of NIR dyes pose challenges for practical uses. Here, we introduce a bulky moiety, 4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)-1,1'-biphenyl (TPEO), to enhance its quantum yield by suppressing the bond rotation and improve the stability by deactivating the photoinduced oxidization. Compared with the conventional IR806, the formed NIR dye, TPEO-Cy, has been characterized to deliver three times higher quantum yield and seven times better photostability. Moreover, we take advantage of the strong affinity of sulfonate chains on the TPEO-Cy to bind to the surface of UCNPs. Taking together the synergistic effect, we have achieved a 242-fold upconversion emission enhancement over the benchmark of IR806-sensitized system and an ∼800 000-fold increase than the bare UCNPs. Our design of the NIR dyes suggests a new scope to search for more efficient upconversion nanohybrids.
Bao, T, Damtie, MM, Wei, W, Phong Vo, HN, Nguyen, KH, Hosseinzadeh, A, Cho, K, Yu, ZM, Jin, J, Wei, XL, Wu, K, Frost, RL & Ni, B-J 2021, 'Simultaneous adsorption and degradation of bisphenol A on magnetic illite clay composite: Eco-friendly preparation, characterizations, and catalytic mechanism', Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 287, pp. 125068-125068.
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Excess bisphenol A (BPA) is a pollutant of concern in different water sources. In this work, magnetic illite clay-composite material (Fe3O4@illite) was synthesized via the coprecipitation method by loading Fe3O4 nanoparticles (nano-Fe3O4) onto the surfaces of illite clay. Results from different characterizations showed that nano-Fe3O4 was embedded into illite clay nanosheets and existed on the surfaces of illite clay, thereby reducing the degree of agglomeration and improving dispersibility. The catalytic BPA degradation of Fe3O4@illite and nano-Fe3O4 confirmed the superior performance of Fe3O4@illite compared with that of nano-Fe3O4. The optimum operating parameters for degradation were 0.3 mL of H2O2 at pH of 3 in the presence of Fe3O4@illite, which provided a maximum degradation capacity up to 816, 364, 113, and 68 mg/g for epoxy BPA concentration of resin wastewater (266 mg/L), synthetic wastewater (80 mg/L), Hefei City swan lake (25 mg/L), and Hefei University lake wastewater (14.94 mg/L), respectively, in 180 min reaction time. The degradation data conformed to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The degradation pathways and mineralization study revealed that the adsorption-Fenton-like reaction was the principal mechanism that demonstrated 100% degradation efficiency of Fe3O4@illite even after nine successive runs. The regeneration and reusability tendency analysis ensured that Fe3O4@illite can be easily separated by using magnets. Therefore, Fe3O4@illite composite with H2O2 Fenton-like technology was a promising method for BPA degradation.
Bao, W, Wang, R, Qian, C, Zhang, Z, Wu, R, Zhang, Y, Liu, F, Li, J & Wang, G 2021, 'Porous Heteroatom-Doped Ti3C2Tx MXene Microspheres Enable Strong Adsorption of Sodium Polysulfides for Long-Life Room-Temperature Sodium–Sulfur Batteries', ACS Nano, vol. 15, no. 10, pp. 16207-16217.
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The practical application of Na-S batteries is largely hindered by their low mass loading, inferior rate capability, and poor cycling performance. Herein, we report a design strategy for encapsulation of sodium polysulfides using Ti3C2Tx MXene. Porous nitrogen-doped Ti3C2Tx MXene microspheres have been synthesized by a facile synthesis method. Porous nitrogen-doped Ti3C2Tx MXene microspheres contain abundant pore structures and heteroatom functional groups for structural and chemical synergistic encapsulation of sodium polysulfides. Sodium-sulfur batteries, based on the as-proposed cathode, demonstrated outstanding electrochemical performances, including a high reversible capacity (980 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C rate) and extended cycling stability (450.1 mAh g-1 at 2 C after 1000 cycles at a high areal sulfur loading of 5.5 mg cm-2). This MXene-based hybrid material is a promising cathode host material for polysulfide-retention, enabling high-performance Na-S batteries.
Barnes, JL, Plank, MW, Asquith, K, Maltby, S, Sabino, LR, Kaiko, GE, Lochrin, A, Horvat, JC, Mayall, JR, Kim, RY, Hansbro, PM, Keely, S, Belz, GT, Tay, HL & Foster, PS 2021, 'T-helper 22 cells develop as a distinct lineage from Th17 cells during bacterial infection and phenotypic stability is regulated by T-bet', Mucosal Immunology, vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 1077-1087.
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CD4+ T-helper 22 (Th22) cells are a phenotypically distinct lymphocyte subset that produces high levels of interleukin (IL)-22 without co-production of IL-17A. However, the developmental origin and lineage classification of Th22 cells, their interrelationship to Th17 cells, and potential for plasticity at sites of infection and inflammation remain largely undefined. An improved understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the outgrowth of Th22 cells will provide insights into their regulation during homeostasis, infection, and disease. To address this knowledge gap we generated 'IL-17A-fate-mapping IL-17A/IL-22 reporter transgenic mice' and show that Th22 cells develop in the gastrointestinal tract and lung during bacterial infection without transitioning via an Il17a-expressing intermediate, although in some compartments alternative transition pathways exist. Th22-cell development was not dependent on T-bet; however, this transcription factor functioned as a promiscuous T-cell-intrinsic regulator of IL-17A and IL-22 production, in addition to regulating the outgrowth, phenotypic stability, and plasticity of Th22 cells. Thus, we demonstrate that at sites of mucosal bacterial infection Th22 cells develop as a distinct lineage independently of Th17 cells; though both lineages exhibit bidirectional phenotypic flexibility within infected tissues and their draining lymph nodes, and that T-bet plays a critical regulatory role in Th22-cell function and identity.
Barton, PS, Dawson, BM, Barton, AF, Joshua, S & Wallman, JF 2021, 'Temperature dynamics in different body regions of decomposing vertebrate remains', Forensic Science International, vol. 325, pp. 110900-110900.
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The decomposition of vertebrates is controlled largely by external temperature, yet internal temperatures can also play an important role but are generally poorly documented. In this study, we compared continuous hourly temperature recordings from the mouth, under the head, right chest and right abdomen, and in the rectum of one refrigerated human and one fresh pig cadaver during 29 days of decomposition. Each cadaver differed in its internal starting temperature, thus providing two contrasting case studies for examining temperature dynamics among body regions. We used time-series analysis methods common to hydrology to reveal key differences in internal temperature dynamics. Within both cadavers, the chest region experienced the highest average temperatures, and the mouth experienced the highest maximum hourly temperature. Temperatures exceeded 30 °C inside the pig for between 40% (rectum) and 75% (chest) of the duration of the study, but for only 20% (rectum) and 35% (chest) of the time in the human. Our study provides evidence of the different thermal trajectories occurring in different body regions, and some similarities between two cadavers despite their different starting thermal conditions. These results improve our understanding of why decomposition occurs at different rates within the same cadaver, and that the location of blowfly larvae collections should be noted to improve estimates of the post-mortem interval.
Batistic, F-K, Rhumorbarbe, D, Lefrancois, E, Tettey, J, Raithelhuber, M, Rossy, Q & Morelato, M 2021, 'Analysis of Google Trends to monitor new psychoactive substance. Is there an added value?', Forensic Science International, vol. 326, pp. 110918-110918.
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The past decade has seen an increase in the development and availability of a broad category of drugs, known as new psychoactive substances (NPS). NPS are challenging for public health authorities, therefore the two major drug monitoring bodies – the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) – have implemented the EU Early Warning System (EWS) and Early Warning Advisory (EWA), respectively. While these monitoring systems are informative, it is difficult to keep up with the constant and rapid developmental rate of NPS. The EMCDDA has recognised the need for an alternative and technologically derived early warning system. The aim of this research is to determine whether Google Trends and drug discussion forum data can be used to complement early warning systems for NPS.Forty-eight substances were used in this study and classed into groups based on their chemical structure, following the UNODC classification system. Google Trends data (time range: 2004–2019) and drug forum data (time range: 2003–2018) were extracted for each substance and visual trend profiles were created for class groups as well as individual substances. Analysis was conducted to determine when a substance first appeared on Google Trends and a drug discussion forum as well as their trends over time. This date of first appearance was then compared to the date the substance was first reported to UNODC.Of the three data sources utilised, substances were most likely to appear on Google Trends first. Amongst the different classes of NPS, discernible trends (‘block’, ‘successive’, and ‘generational’ trends) were observed. These trends reflect the evolution of the manufacture of substances or generations of substances that has been observed in the literature. For example, in the synthetic cannabinoids’ category, a generational trend is observed that corresponds to the different generations of synthetic cannabino...
Beltrán, VH, Puill-Stephan, E, Howells, E, Flores-Moya, A, Doblin, M, Núñez-Lara, E, Escamilla, V, López, T & van Oppen, MJH 2021, 'Physiological diversity among sympatric, conspecific endosymbionts of coral (Cladocopium C1acro) from the Great Barrier Reef', Coral Reefs, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 985-997.
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Bennett, AC, Arndt, SK, Bennett, LT, Knauer, J, Beringer, J, Griebel, A, Hinko‐Najera, N, Liddell, MJ, Metzen, D, Pendall, E, Silberstein, RP, Wardlaw, TJ, Woodgate, W & Haverd, V 2021, 'Thermal optima of gross primary productivity are closely aligned with mean air temperatures across Australian wooded ecosystems', Global Change Biology, vol. 27, no. 19, pp. 4727-4744.
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AbstractGross primary productivity (GPP) of wooded ecosystems (forests and savannas) is central to the global carbon cycle, comprising 67%–75% of total global terrestrial GPP. Climate change may alter this flux by increasing the frequency of temperatures beyond the thermal optimum of GPP (Topt). We examined the relationship between GPP and air temperature (Ta) in 17 wooded ecosystems dominated by a single plant functional type (broadleaf evergreen trees) occurring over a broad climatic gradient encompassing five ecoregions across Australia ranging from tropical in the north to Mediterranean and temperate in the south. We applied a novel boundary‐line analysis to eddy covariance flux observations to (a) derive ecosystem GPP–Ta relationships and Topt (including seasonal analyses for five tropical savannas); (b) quantitatively and qualitatively assess GPP–Ta relationships within and among ecoregions; (c) examine the relationship between Topt and mean daytime air temperature (MDTa) across all ecosystems; and (d) examine how down‐welling short‐wave radiation (Fsd) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) influence the GPP–Ta relationship. GPP–Ta relationships were convex parabolas with narrow curves in tropical forests, tropical savannas (wet season), and temperate forests, and wider curves in temperate woodlands, Mediterranean woodlands, and tropical savannas (dry season). Ecosystem Topt ranged from 15℃ (temperate forest) to 32℃ (tropical savanna—wet and dry seasons). The shape of GPP–Ta curves was largely determined by daytime Ta range, MDTa, and maximum GPP with the upslope influenced by Fsd and the downslope influenced by VPD. Across all ecosystems, there was a strong positive linear relationship between T
BERDINSKY, D, ELDER, M & TABACK, J 2021, 'BEING CAYLEY AUTOMATIC IS CLOSED UNDER TAKING WREATH PRODUCT WITH VIRTUALLY CYCLIC GROUPS', Bulletin of the Australian Mathematical Society, vol. 104, no. 3, pp. 464-474.
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AbstractWe extend work of Berdinsky and Khoussainov [‘Cayley automatic representations of wreath products’, International Journal of Foundations of Computer Science27(2) (2016), 147–159] to show that being Cayley automatic is closed under taking the restricted wreath product with a virtually infinite cyclic group. This adds to the list of known examples of Cayley automatic groups.
Berlińska, J, Kononov, A & Zinder, Y 2021, 'Two-machine flow shop with dynamic storage space', Optimization Letters, vol. 15, no. 7, pp. 2433-2454.
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AbstractThe publications on two-machine flow shop scheduling problems with job dependent storage requirements, where a job seizes a portion of the storage space for the entire duration of its processing, were motivated by various applications ranging from supply chains of mineral resources to multimedia systems. In contrast to the previous publications that assumed that the availability of the storage space remains unchanged, this paper is concerned with a more general case when the availability is a function of time. It strengthens the previously published result concerning the existence of an optimal permutation schedule, shows that the variable storage space availability leads to the NP-hardness in the strong sense even for unit processing times, and presents a polynomial-time approximation scheme together with several heuristic algorithms. The heuristics are evaluated by means of computational experiments.
Bernhardt, N, Kim, S, Fröch, JE, White, SJU, Duong, NMH, He, Z, Chen, B, Liu, J, Aharonovich, I & Solntsev, AS 2021, 'Large few-layer hexagonal boron nitride flakes for nonlinear optics', Optics Letters, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 564-564.
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Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a layered dielectric material with a wide range of applications in optics and photonics. In this work, we demonstrate a fabrication method for few-layer hBN flakes with areas up to 5000 µ m 2 . We show that hBN in this form can be integrated with photonic microstructures: as an example, we use a circular Bragg grating (CBG). The layer quality of the exfoliated hBN flake on and off a CBG is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy. We show that the SHG signal is uniform across the hBN sample outside the CBG and is amplified in the center of the CBG.
Berry, IJ, Widjaja, M, Jarocki, VM, Steele, JR, Padula, MP & Djordjevic, SP 2021, 'Protein cleavage influences surface protein presentation in Mycoplasma pneumoniae', Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 6743.
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AbstractMycoplasma pneumoniae is a significant cause of pneumonia and post infection sequelae affecting organ sites distant to the respiratory tract are common. It is also a model organism where extensive ‘omics’ studies have been conducted to gain insight into how minimal genome self-replicating organisms function. An N-terminome study undertaken here identified 4898 unique N-terminal peptides that mapped to 391 (56%) predicted M. pneumoniae proteins. True N-terminal sequences beginning with the initiating methionine (iMet) residue from the predicted Open Reading Frame (ORF) were identified for 163 proteins. Notably, almost half (317; 46%) of the ORFS derived from M. pneumoniae strain M129 are post-translationally modified, presumably by proteolytic processing, because dimethyl labelled neo-N-termini were characterised that mapped beyond the predicted N-terminus. An analysis of the N-terminome describes endoproteolytic processing events predominately targeting tryptic-like sites, though cleavages at negatively charged residues in P1′ (D and E) with lysine or serine/alanine in P2′ and P3′ positions also occurred frequently. Surfaceome studies identified 160 proteins (23% of the proteome) to be exposed on the extracellular surface of M. pneumoniae. The two orthogonal methodologies used to characterise the surfaceome each identified the same 116 proteins, a 72% (116/160) overlap. Apart from lipoproteins, transporters, and adhesins, 93/160 (58%) of the surface proteins lack signal peptides and have well characterised, canonical functions in the cell. Of the 160 surface proteins identified, 134 were also targets of endo-proteolytic processing. These processing events are likely to have profound implications for how the host immune system recognises and responds to M. pneumoniae.
Bertram, MR, Brito, B, Palinski, RM, Fish, IH, Pauszek, SJ, Hartwig, EJ, Smoliga, GR, Vu, LT, Hoang, BH, Phuong, NT, Hung, VV, Vu, PP, Dung, NK, Tien, NN, Dong, PV, Dung, DH & Arzt, J 2021, 'Novel Recombinant Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Circulating in Vietnam', Microbiology Resource Announcements, vol. 10, no. 1.
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We report the genome sequences of 12 recombinant foot-and-mouth disease virus isolates from Vietnam. The recombinant strain has a capsid region from an A/Sea-97 strain and a nonstructural segment from an O/ME-SA/PanAsia strain. The isolates were obtained from two outbreak samples collected in June 2017 and 10 subclinical samples collected between 2017 and 2019.
Birrer, SC, Wemheuer, F, Dafforn, KA, Gribben, PE, Steinberg, PD, Simpson, SL, Potts, J, Scanes, P, Doblin, MA & Johnston, EL 2021, 'Legacy Metal Contaminants and Excess Nutrients in Low Flow Estuarine Embayments Alter Composition and Function of Benthic Bacterial Communities', Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12, p. 661177.
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Coastal systems such as estuaries are threatened by multiple anthropogenic stressors worldwide. However, how these stressors and estuarine hydrology shape benthic bacterial communities and their functions remains poorly known. Here, we surveyed sediment bacterial communities in poorly flushed embayments and well flushed channels in Sydney Harbour, Australia, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Sediment samples were collected monthly during the Austral summer-autumn 2014 at increasing distance from a large storm drain in each channel and embayment. Bacterial communities differed significantly between sites that varied in proximity to storm drains, with a gradient of change apparent for sites within embayments. We explored this pattern for embayment sites with analysis of RNA-Seq gene expression patterns and found higher expression of multiple genes involved in bacterial stress response far from storm drains, suggesting that bacterial communities close to storm drains may be more tolerant of localised anthropogenic stressors. Several bacterial groups also differed close to and far from storm drains, suggesting their potential utility as bioindicators to monitor contaminants in estuarine sediments. Overall, our study provides useful insights into changes in the composition and functioning of benthic bacterial communities as a result of multiple anthropogenic stressors in differing hydrological conditions.
Bishop, DP, Westerhausen, MT, Barthelemy, F, Lockwood, T, Cole, N, Gibbs, EM, Crosbie, RH, Nelson, SF, Miceli, MC, Doble, PA & Wanagat, J 2021, 'Quantitative immuno-mass spectrometry imaging of skeletal muscle dystrophin', Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1-11.
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AbstractEmerging and promising therapeutic interventions for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are confounded by the challenges of quantifying dystrophin. Current approaches have poor precision, require large amounts of tissue, and are difficult to standardize. This paper presents an immuno-mass spectrometry imaging method using gadolinium (Gd)-labeled anti-dystrophin antibodies and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to simultaneously quantify and localize dystrophin in muscle sections. Gd is quantified as a proxy for the relative expression of dystrophin and was validated in murine and human skeletal muscle sections following k-means clustering segmentation, before application to DMD patients with different gene mutations where dystrophin expression was measured up to 100 µg kg−1 Gd. These results demonstrate that immuno-mass spectrometry imaging is a viable approach for pre-clinical to clinical research in DMD. It rapidly quantified relative dystrophin in single tissue sections, efficiently used valuable patient resources, and may provide information on drug efficacy for clinical translation.
Biswas, SP, Anower, MS, Sheikh, MRI, Islam, MR, Rahman, MA, Mahmud, MAP & Kouzani, AZ 2021, 'A Modified Reference Saturated Third Harmonic Injected Equal Loading PWM for VSC-Based Renewable Energy Systems', IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1-5.
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Mitigation of excessive heat due to high frequency switching of voltage source converter (VSC) is always an industrial concern for superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) or high temperature superconducting (HTS) material based power conditioning system with grid-tied renewable energy interface. The pulse width modulation (PWM) technique employed for the switching of the VSC has a significant impact on joules heating, switching and conduction power losses, total harmonic distortion (THD) profile of the VSC output, and conversion efficiency in the SMES/HTS based grid-tied power system. In this paper, a modified reference saturated third harmonic injected equal loading PWM technique is proposed for a VSC-based grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) system, which offers lower THD and reduced power conversion losses. The proposed PWM technique employed in the VSC can be used in a PV-based SMES/HTS integrated power system to improve the performance of the power conditioner. To prove the superiority of the proposed PWM technique, a simulation in MATLAB/Simulink was carried out and the simulation results were validated by laboratory tests.
Blomme, EE, Provoost, S, De Smet, EG, De Grove, KC, Van Eeckhoutte, HP, De Volder, J, Hansbro, PM, Bonato, M, Saetta, M, Wijnant, SRA, Verhamme, F, Joos, GF, Bracke, KR, Brusselle, GG & Maes, T 2021, 'Quantification and role of innate lymphoid cell subsets in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease', Clinical & Translational Immunology, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 1-16.
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AbstractObjectivesInnate lymphoid cells (ILCs) secrete cytokines, such as IFN‐γ, IL‐13 and IL‐17, which are linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Here, we investigated the role of pulmonary ILCs in COPD pathogenesis.MethodsLung ILC subsets in COPD and control subjects were quantified using flow cytometry and associated with clinical parameters. Tissue localisation of ILC and T‐cell subsets was determined by immunohistochemistry. Mice were exposed to air or cigarette smoke (CS) for 1, 4 or 24 weeks to investigate whether pulmonary ILC numbers and activation are altered and whether they contribute to CS‐induced innate inflammatory responses.ResultsQuantification of lung ILC subsets demonstrated that ILC1 frequency in the total ILC population was elevated in COPD and was associated with smoking and severity of respiratory symptoms (COPD Assessment Test [CAT] score). All three ILC subsets localised near lymphoid aggregates in COPD. In the COPD mouse model, CS exposure in C57BL/6J mice increased ILC numbers at all time points, with relative increases in ILC1 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Importantly, CS exposure induced increases in neutrophils, monocytes and dendritic cells that remained elevated in Rag2/Il2rg‐deficient mice that lack adaptive immune cells and ILCs. However, CS‐induced CXCL1, IL‐6, TNF‐α and IFN‐γ levels were reduced by ILC deficiency.ConclusionThe ILC1 subset is increased in COPD patients and correlates with smoking and severity of respiratory symptoms. ILCs also increase upon CS exposure in C57BL/6J mice. In the absence of adaptive immunity, ILCs contribute to CS‐induced pro‐inflammatory mediator release, b...
Bogema, DR, Yam, J, Micallef, ML, Gholipourkanani, H, Go, J, Jenkins, C & Dang, C 2021, 'Draft genomes of Perkinsus olseni and Perkinsus chesapeaki reveal polyploidy and regional differences in heterozygosity', Genomics, vol. 113, no. 1, pp. 677-688.
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© 2020 Perkinsus spp. parasites have significant impact on aquaculture and wild mollusc populations. We sequenced the genomes of five monoclonal isolates of Perkinsus olseni and one Perkinsus chesapeaki from international sources. Sequence analysis revealed similar levels of repetitive sequence within species, a polyploid genome structure, and substantially higher heterozygosity in Oceanian-sourced isolates. We also identified tandem replication of the rRNA transcriptional unit, with high strain variation. Characterized gene content was broadly similar amongst all Perkinsus spp. but P. olseni Oceanian isolates contained an elevated number of genes compared to other P. olseni isolates and cox3 could not be identified in any Perkinsus spp. sequence. Phylogenetics and average nucleotide identity scans were consistent with all P. olseni isolates being within one species. These are the first genome sequences generated for both P. olseni and P. chesapeaki and will allow future advances in diagnostic design and population genomics of these important aquatic parasites.
Bohaud, C, Johansen, MD, Jorgensen, C, Ipseiz, N, Kremer, L & Djouad, F 2021, 'The Role of Macrophages During Zebrafish Injury and Tissue Regeneration Under Infectious and Non-Infectious Conditions', Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 12, pp. 1-9.
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The future of regenerative medicine relies on our understanding of the mechanistic processes that underlie tissue regeneration, highlighting the need for suitable animal models. For many years, zebrafish has been exploited as an adequate model in the field due to their very high regenerative capabilities. In this organism, regeneration of several tissues, including the caudal fin, is dependent on a robust epimorphic regenerative process, typified by the formation of a blastema, consisting of highly proliferative cells that can regenerate and completely grow the lost limb within a few days. Recent studies have also emphasized the crucial role of distinct macrophage subpopulations in tissue regeneration, contributing to the early phases of inflammation and promoting tissue repair and regeneration in late stages once inflammation is resolved. However, while most studies were conducted under non-infectious conditions, this situation does not necessarily reflect all the complexities of the interactions associated with injury often involving entry of pathogenic microorganisms. There is emerging evidence that the presence of infectious pathogens can largely influence and modulate the host immune response and the regenerative processes, which is sometimes more representative of the true complexities underlying regenerative mechanics. Herein, we present the current knowledge regarding the paths involved in the repair of non-infected and infected wounds using the zebrafish model.
Bohaud, C, Johansen, MD, Jorgensen, C, Kremer, L, Ipseiz, N & Djouad, F 2021, 'The Role of Macrophages During Mammalian Tissue Remodeling and Regeneration Under Infectious and Non-Infectious Conditions', Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 12, pp. 1-13.
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Several infectious pathologies in humans, such as tuberculosis or SARS-CoV-2, are responsible for tissue or lung damage, requiring regeneration. The regenerative capacity of adult mammals is limited to few organs. Critical injuries of non-regenerative organs trigger a repair process that leads to a definitive architectural and functional disruption, while superficial wounds result in scar formation. Tissue lesions in mammals, commonly studied under non-infectious conditions, trigger cell death at the site of the injury, as well as the production of danger signals favouring the massive recruitment of immune cells, particularly macrophages. Macrophages are also of paramount importance in infected injuries, characterized by the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, where they must respond to both infection and tissue damage. In this review, we compare the processes implicated in the tissue repair of non-infected versus infected injuries of two organs, the skeletal muscles and the lungs, focusing on the primary role of macrophages. We discuss also the negative impact of infection on the macrophage responses and the possible routes of investigation for new regenerative therapies to improve the recovery state as seen with COVID-19 patients.
Bolitho, C, Moscova, M, Baxter, RC & Marsh, DJ 2021, 'Amphiregulin increases migration and proliferation of epithelial ovarian cancer cells by inducing its own expression via PI3-kinase signaling', Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, vol. 533, pp. 111338-111338.
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Booth, DJ & Beretta, GA 2021, 'Long-term demographics of a coral-reef fish: growth, survival and abundance at several spatial scales', Coral Reefs, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 1257-1266.
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In marine organisms, pelagic larval dispersal often results in genetic panmixis among widely separated populations; however, local conditions may produce populations of marine organisms that differ in key life history traits. Here, we assess spatial differences in growth, body condition, survivorship and movement over a decade for lemon damselfish Pomacentrus moluccensis. Newly recruited fish were tagged on the southern (One Tree Island, 23°S), and northern Great Barrier Reef (Lizard Island, 15°S), 1200 km apart, and monitored for over a decade to provide direct data on growth and survivorship. New recruit physiological condition (lipid content) had a weak positive influence on early survival, but not on long-term persistence or growth, and the larval supply signal was lost after 2 years, suggesting post-settlement processes were key in long-term population persistence. Fish exhibited extreme site fidelity, with older/larger fish moving most (all less than 7 m). At Lizard Island, under 5% of individuals remained after 3 years, none after 4 years, while at One Tree Island 5% of individuals survived over 5 years, with 1% remaining after a decade, suggesting Lizard Island populations may require more frequent replenishment to persist. Among-site (within location) variation in mortality was high, and not related to density, suggesting local conditions such as wave exposure and predators were important. Surprisingly, mean growth at the two locations, which differ by around 2 °C on average in sea temperature, was practically identical, levelling off after 3 years, but with high variation among nearby sites within each location, which would affect size-based fecundity and time of first reproduction at these smaller spatial scales. Neither early post-settlement growth nor mortality were density-dependent, and early growth was not related to overall longevity. These small reef fishes are highly sedentary and some demographic parameters, but not others, differ at...
Borchhardt, N, Chomérat, N, Bilien, G, Zentz, F, Rhodes, L, Murray, SA & Hoppenrath, M 2021, 'Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Bindiferia gen. nov. (Dinophyceae), a new marine, sand-dwelling dinoflagellate genus formerly classified within Amphidinium', Phycologia, vol. 60, no. 6, pp. 631-643.
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Bouchekara, HREH, Shahriar, MS, Irshad, UB, Sha’ aban, YA, Mahmud, MAP, Javaid, MS, Ramli, MAM & Farjana, SH 2021, 'Optimal sizing of hybrid photovoltaic/diesel/battery nanogrid using a parallel multiobjective PSO-based approach: Application to desert camping in Hafr Al-Batin city in Saudi Arabia', Energy Reports, vol. 7, pp. 4360-4375.
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Bousquet, J, Anto, JM, Czarlewski, W, Haahtela, T, Fonseca, SC, Iaccarino, G, Blain, H, Vidal, A, Sheikh, A, Akdis, CA & Zuberbier, T 2021, 'Cabbage and fermented vegetables: From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID‐19', Allergy, vol. 76, no. 3, pp. 735-750.
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AbstractLarge differences in COVID‐19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS‐CoV‐2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS‐CoV‐2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID‐19. The nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT1R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof‐of‐concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2‐associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID‐19 severity.
Bowman, S, Casares-de-Cal, M-Á, Alvarez-Dios, J, Gomez Tato, A, Roffey, P, Richardson, A, McNevin, D & Gahan, ME 2021, 'Identification ofBacillusandYersiniaspecies and hoax agents by protein profiling using microfluidic capillary electrophoresis with peak detection algorithms', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 2-15.
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© 2019, © 2019 Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences. Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis are biological agents that pose an increasing concern to national security if deliberately disseminated. Hoax agents, including suspicious white powders and environmental bacterial species, can also cause disruption. In either scenario it is of high importance to rapidly and accurately identify any suspicious powder as hazardous or hoax. Protein profiling, using microfluidic capillary electrophoresis, provides a rapid (less than 40 minutes), reliable and field-based screening method. Two commonly encountered hoax agents, three Bacillus species (including B. anthracis Sterne strain), two Yersinia species and E. coli were profiled on the Experion™ System (Bio-Rad). Peak detection algorithms were developed for the identification of protein peaks in electropherograms. Boolean logic paths were then employed to predict the electrophoretic pattern of samples. Parameters assessed included variation within and between Experion™ Pro260 chips and the ability to discriminate between samples over time intervals, between operators and between field and laboratory analyses. Classification with optimal Boolean logic paths reported no misclassification with an accuracy of 100% for B. anthracis Sterne strain, B. thuringiensis (powder and culture-based), B. cereus and plain wheat flour. Overall there was 75% correct identification for the eight sample types tested.
Bradac, C, Xu, Z-Q & Aharonovich, I 2021, 'Quantum Energy and Charge Transfer at Two-Dimensional Interfaces', Nano Letters, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 1193-1204.
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Bradbury, P, Nader, CP, Cidem, A, Rutting, S, Sylvester, D, He, P, Rezcallah, MC, O’Neill, GM & Ammit, AJ 2021, 'Tropomyosin 2.1 collaborates with fibronectin to promote TGF-β1-induced contraction of human lung fibroblasts', Respiratory Research, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 1-10.
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AbstractMany lung diseases are characterized by fibrosis, leading to impaired tissue patency and reduced lung function. Development of fibrotic tissue depends on two-way interaction between the cells and the extra-cellular matrix (ECM). Concentration-dependent increased stiffening of the ECM is sensed by the cells, which in turn increases intracellular contraction and pulling on the matrix causing matrix reorganization and further stiffening. It is generally accepted that the inflammatory cytokine growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a major driver of lung fibrosis through the stimulation of ECM production. However, TGF-β1 also regulates the expression of members of the tropomyosin (Tm) family of actin associating proteins that mediate ECM reorganization through intracellular-generated forces. Thus, TGF-β1 may mediate the bi-directional signaling between cells and the ECM that promotes tissue fibrosis. Using combinations of cytokine stimulation, mRNA, protein profiling and cellular contractility assays with human lung fibroblasts, we show that concomitant induction of key Tm isoforms and ECM by TGF-β1, significantly accelerates fibrotic phenotypes. Knocking down Tpm2.1 reduces fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction. Collectively, the data suggest combined ECM secretion and actin cytoskeleton contractility primes the tissue for enhanced fibrosis. Our study suggests that Tms are at the nexus of inflammation and tissue stiffening. Small molecules targeting specific Tm isoforms have recently been designed; thus targeting Tpm2.1 may represent a novel therapeutic target in lung fibrosis.
Bradfield, L & Balleine, B 2021, 'Editorial overview: Value-based decision making: control, value, and context in action', Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, vol. 41, pp. iii-vi.
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Bradfield, LA & Iordanova, MD 2021, 'Threat perception: Fear and the retrorubal field', Current Biology, vol. 31, no. 10, pp. R469-R471.
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A new study has found that neurons within a structure of the rat midbrain known as the retrorubral field show diverse responses to stimuli that signal different levels of threat, as well as a separate pattern of diverse responses to differentially predicted aversive outcomes.
Bradley, DJ, Boada, J, Gladstone, W, Glasby, TM & Gribben, PE 2021, 'Sublethal effects of a rapidly spreading native alga on a key herbivore', Ecology and Evolution, vol. 11, no. 18, pp. 12605-12616.
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AbstractMultiple anthropogenic stressors are causing a global decline in foundation species, including macrophytes, often resulting in the expansion of functionally different, more stressor‐tolerant macrophytes. Previously subdominant species may experience further positive demographic feedback if they are exposed to weaker plant–herbivore interactions, possibly via decreased palatability or being structurally different from the species they are replacing. However, the consequences of the spread of opportunistic macrophytes for the local distribution and life history of herbivores are unknown.The green alga,Caulerpa filiformis, previously a subdominant macrophyte on low intertidal‐shallow subtidal rock shores, is becoming locally more abundant and has spread into warmer waters across the coast of New South Wales, Australia.In this study, we measured (a) the distribution and abundance of a key consumer, the sea urchinHeliocidaris erythrogramma,across a seascape at sites whereC. filiformishas become dominant, (b) performed behavioral field experiments to test the role of habitat selection in determining the local distribution ofH. erythrogramma,and (c) consumer experiments to test differential palatability between previously dominant higher quality species likeEcklonia radiataandSargassumsp. andC. filiformisand the physiological consequences of consuming it.At all sites, urchin densities were positively correlated with distance away fromC. filiformisbeds, and they actively moved away from beds. Feeding experiments showed that, wh...
Bramucci, AR, Focardi, A, Rinke, C, Hugenholtz, P, Tyson, GW, Seymour, JR & Raina, J-B 2021, 'Microvolume DNA extraction methods for microscale amplicon and metagenomic studies', ISME Communications, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-5.
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Abstract Investigating the composition and metabolic capacity of aquatic microbial assemblages usually requires the filtration of multi-litre samples, which are up to 1 million-fold larger than the microenvironments within which microbes are predicted to be spatially organised. To determine if community profiles can be reliably generated from microlitre volumes, we sampled seawater at a coastal and an oceanic site, filtered and homogenised them, and extracted DNA from bulk samples (2 L) and microvolumes (100, 10 and 1 μL) using two new approaches. These microvolume DNA extraction methods involve either physical or chemical lysis (through pH/thermal shock and lytic enzymes/surfactants, respectively), directly followed by the capture of DNA on magnetic beads. Downstream analysis of extracted DNA using both amplicon sequencing and metagenomics, revealed strong correlation with standard large volume approaches, demonstrating the fidelity of taxonomic and functional profiles of microbial communities in as little as 1 μL of seawater. This volume is six orders of magnitude smaller than most standard operating procedures for marine metagenomics, which will allow precise sampling of the heterogenous landscape that microbes inhabit.
Brown, AO, Frankham, GJ, Bond, L, Stuart, BH, Johnson, RN & Ueland, M 2021, 'An overview of risk investment in the transnational illegal wildlife trade from stakeholder perspectives', WIREs Forensic Science, vol. 3, no. 2.
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AbstractThe illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a lucrative, clandestine trade that endangers animal welfare, damages native biodiversity and undermines the rule of law. Despite enhanced law enforcement focus and increased litigation, the illicit trade of wildlife and wildlife products has continued to flourish. The increase in the IWT can be attributed to a lack of identifiable relationships, risk functions and reward systems specific to each stakeholder in this illicit market. The increase in the IWT indicates that domestic and international regulations are not effective in their intent of preventing the illegal trade of various wildlife species. Without a clear understanding of stakeholder relationships, resources will continue to be wasted on ineffective prevention and detection methods with regards to the IWT. Law enforcement strategies rely on identifying key stakeholders in the IWT as well as their perceived motivations, risks, and relationships. These definitions may provide further insight into the motivations driving these individuals participating in this illicit market and may contribute to more successful interventions. Stakeholders and their associated roles within the IWT have been defined to serve as a tool to understand the various risk/reward utility functions in global markets. This study provides a framework support for policy makers by establishing baseline risk/reward systems for each stakeholder which can be built upon as intelligence surrounding these stakeholders increases.This article is categorized under: Jurisprudence and Regulatory Oversight > Communication Across Science and Law Jurisprudence and Regulatory Oversight > Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Brown, AO, Frankham, GJ, Stuart, BH & Ueland, M 2021, 'Reptile volatilome profiling optimisation: A pathway towards forensic applications', Forensic Science International: Animals and Environments, vol. 1, pp. 100024-100024.
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Reptiles are the most trafficked live taxa in the illegal wildlife trade, in part due to their popularity as an exotic pet. Current methods used to detect these illegally trafficked animals are limited. This study optimised the collection and analysis parameters associated with volatilome collection that will set the foundation for targeted odourant detection methods. This study determined that the dual sorbent type (Tenax® TA and Carbograph 5DT) in combination with 20-min sampling times and 15-min sampling intervals collected the most reproducible reptile volatilome profiles. It was also determined that desorption methods with mid-range desorption flows (20 ml/min), trap temperatures (-15 °C), and mid-range trap desorption (25 ml/min) were most effective in retrieving collected reptile volatilomes. Two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used for analysis, where combined Rxi-624 Sil MS (mid-polar) first dimension and Stabilwax® (polar) second dimension column sets were selected as the most effective columns for analysing reptile volatilomes. The resultant data collected and analysed using these parameters demonstrated that individual volatilomes from three reptile species were distinct using principal component analysis. In addition, this work highlighted the need for more rigorous statistical methods to determine reptile biomarkers and which compounds most significantly influence volatilome profiles between species.
Brown, AO, Romanis, CS, Dvořák, P, Foss, AJ, Gibson, QA, Villanueva, CD, Durden, WN, Garvey, AD, Jenkins, P, Hašler, P, Johansen, JR, Neilan, BA & Casamatta, DA 2021, 'A new species of cryptic cyanobacteria isolated from the epidermis of a bottlenose dolphin and as a bioaerosol', Phycologia, vol. 60, no. 6, pp. 603-618.
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Brunet, M, de Bettignies, F, Le Duff, N, Tanguy, G, Davoult, D, Leblanc, C, Gobet, A & Thomas, F 2021, 'Accumulation of detached kelp biomass in a subtidal temperate coastal ecosystem induces succession of epiphytic and sediment bacterial communities', Environmental Microbiology, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 1638-1655.
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SummaryKelps are dominant primary producers in temperate coastal ecosystems. Large amounts of kelp biomass can be exported to the seafloor during the algal growth cycle or following storms, creating new ecological niches for the associated microbiota. Here, we investigated the bacterial community associated with the kelp Laminaria hyperborea during its accumulation and degradation on the seafloor. Kelp tissue, seawater and sediment were sampled during a 6‐month in situ experiment simulating kelp detritus accumulation. Evaluation of the epiphytic bacterial community abundance, structure, taxonomic composition and predicted functional profiles evidenced a biphasic succession. Initially, dominant genera (Hellea, Litorimonas, Granulosicoccus) showed a rapid and drastic decrease in sequence abundance, probably outcompeted by algal polysaccharide‐degraders such as Bacteroidia members which responded within 4 weeks. Acidimicrobiia, especially members of the Sva0996 marine group, colonized the degrading kelp biomass after 11 weeks. These secondary colonizers could act as opportunistic scavenger bacteria assimilating substrates exposed by early degraders. In parallel, kelp accumulation modified bacterial communities in the underlying sediment, notably favouring anaerobic taxa potentially involved in the sulfur and nitrogen cycles. Overall, this study provides insights into the bacterial degradation of algal biomass in situ, an important link in coastal trophic chains.
Brunet, M, Le Duff, N, Fuchs, BM, Amann, R, Barbeyron, T & Thomas, F 2021, 'Specific detection and quantification of the marine flavobacterial genus Zobellia on macroalgae using novel qPCR and CARD-FISH assays', Systematic and Applied Microbiology, vol. 44, no. 6, pp. 126269-126269.
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The flavobacterial genus Zobellia is considered as a model to study macroalgal polysaccharide degradation. The lack of data regarding its prevalence and abundance in coastal habitats constitutes a bottleneck to assess its ecological strategies. To overcome this issue, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) methods targeting the 16S rRNA gene were optimized to specifically detect and quantify Zobellia on the surface of diverse macroalgae. The newly designed qPCR primers and FISH probes targeted 98 and 100% of the Zobellia strains in silico and their specificity was confirmed using pure bacterial cultures. The dynamic range of the qPCR assay spanned 8 orders of magnitude from 10 to 108 16S rRNA gene copies and the detection limit was 0.01% relative abundance of Zobellia in environmental samples. Zobellia-16S rRNA gene copies were detected on all surveyed brown, green and red macroalgae, in proportion varying between 0.1 and 0.9% of the total bacterial copies. The absolute and relative abundance of Zobellia varied with tissue aging on the kelp Laminaria digitata. Zobellia cells were successfully visualized in Ulva lactuca and stranded Palmaria palmata surface biofilm using CARD-FISH, representing in the latter 105Zobellia cells·cm-2 and 0.43% of total bacterial cells. Overall, qPCR and CARD-FISH assays enabled robust detection, quantification and localization of Zobellia representatives in complex samples, underlining their ecological relevance as primary biomass degraders potentially cross-feeding other microorganisms.
Bulbul, AA-M, Kouzani, AZ, Mahmud, MAP & Nahid, A-A 2021, 'Design and Numerical Analysis of a Novel Rectangular PCF (R-PCF)-Based Biochemical Sensor (BCS) in the THz Regime', International Journal of Optics, vol. 2021, pp. 1-16.
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A novel PCF-based sensor has been presented in this paper to sense different chemicals and biocomponents. The proposed biochemical sensor (BCS) comprises a simple arrangement of rectangular holes. The competence of this BCS in detecting analytes is evaluated employing the full-vector finite element method (FEM). Performance metrics prove the competence of this BCS in sensing various analytes that have a refractive index in the range of 1.33–1.48. The proposed BCS shows ultralower values for both the bulk absorption and confinement loss. This BCS attains a maximum of about 95.82% relative sensitivity at 2.5 THz. Also, the dispersion for this sensor is only 0.12 ± 0.011 ps/THz/cm at the same point of interest. These results prove that the proposed BCS will play a key role in sensing toxic chemicals, illegal drugs, biocomponents, etc. Besides, the simple rectangle-based PCF structure ensures the feasibility of fabrication by practicing the existing fabrication strategies.
Burke, C 2021, 'An exploration of liminal pockets of contestation and delight in school spaces', Paedagogica Historica, vol. 57, no. 1-2, pp. 11-22.
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Burke, C & Whyte, W 2021, 'The spaces and places of schooling: historical perspectives', Oxford Review of Education, vol. 47, no. 5, pp. 549-555.
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Burnett, DL, Jackson, KJL, Langley, DB, Aggarwal, A, Stella, AO, Johansen, MD, Balachandran, H, Lenthall, H, Rouet, R, Walker, G, Saunders, BM, Singh, M, Li, H, Henry, JY, Jackson, J, Stewart, AG, Witthauer, F, Spence, MA, Hansbro, NG, Jackson, C, Schofield, P, Milthorpe, C, Martinello, M, Schulz, SR, Roth, E, Kelleher, A, Emery, S, Britton, WJ, Rawlinson, WD, Karl, R, Schäfer, S, Winkler, TH, Brink, R, Bull, RA, Hansbro, PM, Jäck, H-M, Turville, S, Christ, D & Goodnow, CC 2021, 'Immunizations with diverse sarbecovirus receptor-binding domains elicit SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies against a conserved site of vulnerability', Immunity, vol. 54, no. 12, pp. 2908-2921.e6.
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Viral mutations are an emerging concern in reducing SARS-CoV-2 vaccination efficacy. Second-generation vaccines will need to elicit neutralizing antibodies against sites that are evolutionarily conserved across the sarbecovirus subgenus. Here, we immunized mice containing a human antibody repertoire with diverse sarbecovirus receptor-binding domains (RBDs) to identify antibodies targeting conserved sites of vulnerability. Antibodies with broad reactivity against diverse clade B RBDs targeting the conserved class 4 epitope, with recurring IGHV/IGKV pairs, were readily elicited but were non-neutralizing. However, rare class 4 antibodies binding this conserved RBD supersite showed potent neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 and all variants of concern. Structural analysis revealed that the neutralizing ability of cross-reactive antibodies was reserved only for those with an elongated CDRH3 that extends the antiparallel beta-sheet RBD core and orients the antibody light chain to obstruct ACE2-RBD interactions. These results identify a structurally defined pathway for vaccine strategies eliciting escape-resistant SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.
Butterworth, NJ, White, TE, Byrne, PG & Wallman, JF 2021, 'Love at first flight: wing interference patterns are species‐specific and sexually dimorphic in blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)', Journal of Evolutionary Biology, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 558-570.
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AbstractWing interference patterns (WIPs) are stable structural colours displayed on insect wings which are only visible at specific viewing geometries and against certain backgrounds. These patterns are widespread among flies and wasps, and growing evidence suggests that they may function as species‐ and sex‐specific mating cues in a range of taxa. As such, it is expected that WIPs should differ between species and show clear sexual dimorphisms. However, the true extent to which WIPs vary between species, sexes and individuals is currently unclear, as previous studies have only taken a qualitative approach, without considering how WIPs might be perceived by the insect. Here, we perform the first quantitative analysis of inter‐ and intra‐specific variation in WIPs across seven Australian species of the blowfly genus Chrysomya. Using multispectral digital imaging and a tentative model of blowfly colour vision, we provide quantitative evidence that WIPs are species‐specific, highlight that the extent of divergence is greater in males than in females and demonstrate sexual dimorphisms in several species. These data suggest that WIPs have diversified substantially in blowflies as a result of either sexual or ecological selection.
Cai, X, Li, JJ, Liu, T, Brian, O & Li, J 2021, 'Infectious disease mRNA vaccines and a review on epitope prediction for vaccine design', Briefings in Functional Genomics, vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 289-303.
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AbstractMessenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have recently emerged as a new type of vaccine technology, showing strong potential to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to SARS-CoV-2 which caused the pandemic, mRNA vaccines have been developed and tested to prevent infectious diseases caused by other viruses such as Zika virus, the dengue virus, the respiratory syncytial virus, influenza H7N9 and Flavivirus. Interestingly, mRNA vaccines may also be useful for preventing non-infectious diseases such as diabetes and cancer. This review summarises the current progresses of mRNA vaccines designed for a range of diseases including COVID-19. As epitope study is a primary component in the in silico design of mRNA vaccines, we also survey on advanced bioinformatics and machine learning algorithms which have been used for epitope prediction, and review on user-friendly software tools available for this purpose. Finally, we discuss some of the unanswered concerns about mRNA vaccines, such as unknown long-term side effects, and present with our perspectives on future developments in this exciting area.
Callan, T, Woodcock, S & Huston, WM 2021, 'Ascension of Chlamydia is moderated by uterine peristalsis and the neutrophil response to infection', PLOS Computational Biology, vol. 17, no. 9, pp. e1009365-e1009365.
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Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted infection that is associated with a range of serious reproductive tract sequelae including in women Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), tubal factor infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Ascension of the pathogen beyond the cervix and into the upper reproductive tract is thought to be necessary for these pathologies. However, Chlamydia trachomatis does not encode a mechanism for movement on its genome, and so the processes that facilitate ascension have not been elucidated. Here, we evaluate the factors that may influence chlamydial ascension in women. We constructed a mathematical model based on a set of stochastic dynamics to elucidate the moderating factors that might influence ascension of infections in the first month of an infection. In the simulations conducted from the stochastic model, 36% of infections ascended, but only 9% had more than 1000 bacteria ascend. The results of the simulations indicated that infectious load and the peristaltic contractions moderate ascension and are inter-related in impact. Smaller initial loads were much more likely to ascend. Ascension was found to be dependent on the neutrophil response. Overall, our results indicate that infectious load, menstrual cycle timing, and the neutrophil response are critical factors in chlamydial ascension in women.
Camaya, I, Mok, TY, Lund, M, To, J, Braidy, N, Robinson, MW, Santos, J, O’Brien, B & Donnelly, S 2021, 'The parasite-derived peptide FhHDM-1 activates the PI3K/Akt pathway to prevent cytokine-induced apoptosis of β-cells', Journal of Molecular Medicine, vol. 99, no. 11, pp. 1605-1621.
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Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterised by the destruction of the insulin-producing beta (β)-cells within the pancreatic islets. We have previously identified a novel parasite-derived molecule, termed Fasciola hepatica helminth defence molecule 1 (FhHDM-1), that prevents T1D development in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. In this study, proteomic analyses of pancreas tissue from NOD mice suggested that FhHDM-1 activated the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway, which is associated with β-cell metabolism, survival and proliferation. Consistent with this finding, FhHDM-1 preserved β-cell mass in NOD mice. Examination of the biodistribution of FhHDM-1 after intraperitoneal administration in NOD mice revealed that the parasite peptide localised to the pancreas, suggesting that it exerted a direct effect on the survival/function of β-cells. This was confirmed in vitro, as the interaction of FhHDM-1 with the NOD-derived β-cell line, NIT-1, resulted in increased levels of phosphorylated Akt, increased NADH and NADPH and reduced activity of the NAD-dependent DNA nick sensor, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1). As a consequence, β-cell survival was enhanced and apoptosis was prevented in the presence of the pro-inflammatory cytokines that destroy β-cells during T1D pathogenesis. Similarly, FhHDM-1 protected primary human islets from cytokine-induced apoptosis. Importantly, while FhHDM-1 promoted β-cell survival, it did not induce proliferation. Collectively, these data indicate that FhHDM-1 has significant therapeutic applications to promote β-cell survival, which is required for T1D and T2D prevention and islet transplantation. KEY MESSAGES: FhHDM-1 preserves β-cell mass in NOD mice and prevents the development of T1D. FhHDM-1 enhances phosphorylation of Akt in mouse β-cell lines. FhHDM-1 increases levels of NADH/NADPH in mouse β-cell lines in vitro. FhHDM-1 prevents cytokine-induced cell death of mouse β-cell lines and primary human β-cells in vitr...
Cardoso, BR, Hare, DJ & Macpherson, H 2021, 'Correction to: Sex‑dependent association between selenium status and cognitive performance in older adults', European Journal of Nutrition, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 1161-1161.
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Castrogiovanni, P, Sanfilippo, C, Imbesi, R, Maugeri, G, Lo Furno, D, Tibullo, D, Castorina, A, Musumeci, G & Di Rosa, M 2021, 'Brain CHID1 Expression Correlates with NRGN and CALB1 in Healthy Subjects and AD Patients', Cells, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 882-882.
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Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, devastating, and irreversible brain disorder that, day by day, destroys memory skills and social behavior. Despite this, the number of known genes suitable for discriminating between AD patients is insufficient. Among the genes potentially involved in the development of AD, there are the chitinase-like proteins (CLPs) CHI3L1, CHI3L2, and CHID1. The genes of the first two have been extensively investigated while, on the contrary, little information is available on CHID1. In this manuscript, we conducted transcriptome meta-analysis on an extensive sample of brains of healthy control subjects (n = 1849) (NDHC) and brains of AD patients (n = 1170) in order to demonstrate CHID1 involvement. Our analysis revealed an inverse correlation between the brain CHID1 expression levels and the age of NDHC subjects. Significant differences were highlighted comparing CHID1 expression of NDHC subjects and AD patients. Exclusive in AD patients, the CHID1 expression levels were correlated positively to calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1) levels. Furthermore, both in NDHC and in AD patient’s brains, the CHID1 expression levels were directly correlated with calbindin 1 (CALB1) and neurogranin (NRGN). According to brain regions, correlation differences were shown between the expression levels of CHID1 in prefrontal, frontal, occipital, cerebellum, temporal, and limbic system. Sex-related differences were only highlighted in NDHC. CHID1 represents a new chitinase potentially involved in the principal processes underlying Alzheimer’s disease.
Celis-Plá, PSM, Rearte, TA, Neori, A, Masojídek, J, Bonomi-Barufi, J, Álvarez-Gómez, F, Ranglová, K, Carmo da Silva, J, Abdala, R, Gómez, C, Caporgno, M, Torzillo, G, Silva Benavides, AM, Ralph, PJ, Fávero Massocato, T, Atzmüller, R, Vega, J, Chávez, P & Figueroa, FL 2021, 'A new approach for cultivating the cyanobacterium Nostoc calcicola (MACC-612) to produce biomass and bioactive compounds using a thin-layer raceway pond', Algal Research, vol. 59, pp. 102421-102421.
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Chadwick, S, Cvetanovski, M, Ross, M, Sharp, A & Moret, S 2021, 'Comparison of NIR powders to conventional fingerprint powders', Forensic Science International, vol. 328, pp. 111023-111023.
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Fingerprint powders remain one of the most common detection techniques used at the crime scene. However, powder efficiency and contrast can be hindered when applied to highly patterned backgrounds. This problem can be overcome using powders that are luminescent in the near-infrared (NIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Despite being commercially available, those powders have been the focus of only a small number of studies, limited to a few substrates or donors. Their performance and advantages over common techniques are still to be thoroughly investigated. This study aims at assessing the performances of two NIR powder (fpNATURAL 1® and Universal Powder an in-house developed powder) against two conventional powders, a black and a luminescent powder (Sirchie Black, GREENcharge™) under various optical conditions (white light, visible luminescence and NIR luminescence). The powders were compared on four substrates using fingermarks of four different ages from five donors. A total 900 fingermarks were collected for each pairwise comparison. NIR imaging provided good background suppression and a high contrast, however it was shown that conventional powders remained the most effective powdering methods on the substrates tested as sufficient contrast could be achieved under white light or in luminescent mode in the visible region. The results showed that Universal Powder performed similarly to conventional powders, but poor performances were obtained on most substrates with fpNATURAL 1®. Based on the results obtained, it is recommended to use NIR powders only on substrates or conditions where traditional powders are known to perform poorly.
Chai, H, Cheng, W, Jin, D & Miao, P 2021, 'Recent Progress in DNA Hybridization Chain Reaction Strategies for Amplified Biosensing', ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 13, no. 33, pp. 38931-38946.
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With the continuous development of DNA nanotechnology, various spatial DNA structures and assembly techniques emerge. Hybridization chain reaction (HCR) is a typical example with exciting features and bright prospects in biosensing, which has been intensively investigated in the past decade. In this Spotlight on Applications, we summarize the assembly principles of conventional HCR and some novel forms of linear/nonlinear HCR. With advantages like great assembly kinetics, facile operation, and an enzyme-free and isothermal reaction, these strategies can be integrated with most mainstream reporters (e.g., fluorescence, electrochemistry, and colorimetry) for the ultrasensitive detection of abundant targets. Particularly, we select several representative studies to better illustrate the novel ideas and performances of HCR strategies. Theoretical and practical utilities are confirmed for a range of biosensing applications. In the end, a deep discussion is provided about the challenges and future tasks of this field.
Chan, SH, Ismail, MH, Tan, CH, Rice, SA & McDougald, D 2021, 'Microbial predation accelerates granulation and modulates microbial community composition', BMC Microbiology, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 91-91.
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Abstract Background Bacterial communities are responsible for biological nutrient removal and flocculation in engineered systems such as activated floccular sludge. Predators such as bacteriophage and protozoa exert significant predation pressure and cause bacterial mortality within these communities. However, the roles of bacteriophage and protozoan predation in impacting granulation process remain limited. Recent studies hypothesised that protozoa, particularly sessile ciliates, could have an important role in granulation as these ciliates were often observed in high abundance on surfaces of granules. Bacteriophages were hypothesized to contribute to granular stability through bacteriophage-mediated extracellular DNA release by lysing bacterial cells. This current study investigated the bacteriophage and protozoan communities throughout the granulation process. In addition, the importance of protozoan predation during granulation was also determined through chemical killing of protozoa in the floccular sludge. Results Four independent bioreactors seeded with activated floccular sludge were operated for aerobic granulation for 11 weeks. Changes in the phage, protozoa and bacterial communities were characterized throughout the granulation process. The filamentous phage, Inoviridae, increased in abundance at the initiation phase of granulation. However, the abundance shifted towards lytic phages during the maturation phase. In contrast, the abundance and diversity of protozoa decreased initially, possibly due to the reduction in settling time and subsequent washout. Upon the formation of granules, ciliated protozoa from the class Oligohymenophorea were the dominant group of protozoa based on metacommunity analysis. These ...
Chan, Y, Mehta, M, Paudel, KR, Madheswaran, T, Panneerselvam, J, Gupta, G, Su, QP, Hansbro, PM, MacLoughlin, R, Dua, K & Chellappan, DK 2021, 'Versatility of Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles in Inflammatory Lung Diseases', Nanomedicine, vol. 16, no. 18, pp. 1545-1548.
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Chan, Y, Ng, SW, Chellappan, DK, Madheswaran, T, Zeeshan, F, Kumar, P, Pillay, V, Gupta, G, Wadhwa, R, Mehta, M, Wark, P, Hsu, A, Hansbro, NG, Hansbro, PM, Dua, K & Panneerselvam, J 2021, 'Celastrol-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles as an anti-inflammatory intervention for the treatment of asthma', International Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials, vol. 70, no. 11, pp. 754-763.
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The present study aimed to formulate celastrol into liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs) through ultrasonication to enhance its therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of asthma. The physiochemical characteristics, in-vitro release studies were determined along with molecular simulations. Celastrol-loaded LCNPs showed the mean particle size of 194.1 ± 9.78 nm and high entrapment efficiency of 99.1 ± 0.02%. TEM revealed cubical-like structure of the nanoparticles and in-vitro release study demonstrated sustained drug release. They also demonstrated significant activity in reducing IL-1β production, when evaluated using immortalized human bronchial epithelial cell lines (BCi-NS1.1), that may help alleviate the symptoms of asthma.
Chan, Y, Ng, SW, Singh, SK, Gulati, M, Gupta, G, Chaudhary, SK, Hing, GB, Collet, T, MacLoughlin, R, Löbenberg, R, Oliver, BG, Chellappan, DK & Dua, K 2021, 'Revolutionizing polymer-based nanoparticle-linked vaccines for targeting respiratory viruses: A perspective', Life Sciences, vol. 280, pp. 119744-119744.
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Viral respiratory tract infections have significantly impacted global health as well as socio-economic growth. Respiratory viruses such as the influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the recent SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) typically infect the upper respiratory tract by entry through the respiratory mucosa before reaching the lower respiratory tract, resulting in respiratory disease. Generally, vaccination is the primary method in preventing virus pathogenicity and it has been shown to remarkably reduce the burden of various infectious diseases. Nevertheless, the efficacy of conventional vaccines may be hindered by certain limitations, prompting the need to develop novel vaccine delivery vehicles to immunize against various strains of respiratory viruses and to mitigate the risk of a pandemic. In this review, we provide an insight into how polymer-based nanoparticles can be integrated with the development of vaccines to effectively enhance immune responses for combating viral respiratory tract infections.
Chan, Y, Prasher, P, Löbenberg, R, Gupta, G, Singh, SK, Oliver, BG, Chellappan, DK & Dua, K 2021, 'Applications and Practice of Advanced Drug Delivery Systems for Targeting Toll-Like Receptors in Pulmonary Diseases', Nanomedicine, vol. 16, no. 10, pp. 783-786.
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Chang, JJ-Y, Rawlinson, D, Pitt, ME, Taiaroa, G, Gleeson, J, Zhou, C, Mordant, FL, De Paoli-Iseppi, R, Caly, L, Purcell, DFJ, Stinear, TP, Londrigan, SL, Clark, MB, Williamson, DA, Subbarao, K & Coin, LJM 2021, 'Transcriptional and epi-transcriptional dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 during cellular infection', Cell Reports, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 109108-109108.
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Charon, J, Murray, S & Holmes, EC 2021, 'Revealing RNA virus diversity and evolution in unicellular algae transcriptomes', Virus Evolution, vol. 7, no. 2, p. veab070.
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Abstract Remarkably little is known about the diversity and evolution of RNA viruses in unicellular eukaryotes. We screened a total of 570 transcriptomes from the Marine Microbial Eukaryote Transcriptome Sequencing Project that encompasses a wide diversity of microbial eukaryotes, including most major photosynthetic lineages (i.e. the microalgae). From this, we identified thirty new and divergent RNA virus species, occupying a range of phylogenetic positions within the overall diversity of RNA viruses. Approximately one-third of the newly described viruses comprised single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses from the order Lenarviricota associated with fungi, plants, and protists, while another third were related to the order Ghabrivirales, including members of the protist and fungi-associated Totiviridae. Other viral species showed sequence similarity to positive-sense RNA viruses from the algae-associated Marnaviridae, the double-stranded RNA (ds-RNA) Partitiviridae, as well as tentative evidence for one negative-sense RNA virus related to the Qinviridae. Importantly, we were able to identify divergent RNA viruses from distant host taxa, revealing the ancestry of these viral families and greatly extending our knowledge of the RNA viromes of microalgal cultures. Both the limited number of viruses detected per sample and the low sequence identity to known RNA viruses imply that additional microalgal viruses exist that could not be detected at the current sequencing depth or were too divergent to be identified using sequence similarity. Together, these results highlight the need for further investigation of algal-associated RNA viruses as well as the development of new tools to identify RNA viruses that exhibit very high levels of sequence divergence.
Chellappan, DK, Dharwal, V, Paudel, KR, Jha, NK, MacLoughlin, R, Oliver, BG, M Hansbro, P & Dua, K 2021, 'Mitochondrial Dysfunctions Associated With Chronic Respiratory Diseases and Their Targeted Therapies: an Update', Future Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 13, no. 15, pp. 1249-1251.
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Chen, H, Chhor, M, Rayner, BS, McGrath, K & McClements, L 2021, 'Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of current biomarkers in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases, vol. 114, no. 12, pp. 793-804.
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Background: A number of circulating biomarkers are currently utilized for the diagnosis of chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, due to HFpEF heterogeneity, the accuracy of these biomarkers remains unclear. Aims: This study aimed to systematically determine the diagnostic accuracy of currently available biomarkers for chronic HFpEF. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases were searched systematically to identify studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers of chronic HFpEF with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50%. All included studies were independently assessed for quality and relevant information was extracted. Random-effects models were used to estimate the pooled diagnostic accuracy of HFpEF biomarkers. Results: The search identified 6145 studies, of which 19 were included. Four biomarkers were available for meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) (0.787, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.719–0.842) was higher than that of N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) (0.696, 95% CI 0.599–0.779) in chronic HFpEF diagnosis. However, NT-proBNP showed improved specificity (0.882, 95% CI 0.778–0.941) compared to BNP (\0.796, 95% CI 0.672–0.882). Galectin-3 (Gal-3) exhibited a reliable diagnostic adequacy for HFpEF (sensitivity 0.760, 95% CI 0.631–0.855; specificity 0.803, 95% CI 0.667–0.893). However, suppression of tumorigenesis-2 (ST2) displayed limited diagnostic performance for chronic HFpEF diagnosis (sensitivity 0.636, 95% CI 0.465–0.779; specificity 0.595, 95% CI 0.427–0.743). Conclusion: NT-proBNP and BNP appear to be the most reliable biomarkers in chronic HFpEF with NT-proBNP showing higher specificity and BNP showing higher sensitivity. Although Gal-3 appears more reliable than ST2 in HFpEF diagnosis, the conclusions are limited as only three studies were included in this meta-analysis.
Chen, H, Wang, B, Li, G, Steele, JR, Stayte, S, Vissel, B, Chan, YL, Yi, C, Saad, S, Machaalani, R & Oliver, BG 2021, 'Brain health is independently impaired by E-vaping and high-fat diet', Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, vol. 92, pp. 57-66.
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Tobacco smoking and high-fat diet (HFD) independently impair short-term memory. E-cigarettes produce e-vapour containing flavourings and nicotine. Here, we investigated whether e-vapour inhalation interacts with HFD to affect short-term memory and neural integrity. Balb/c mice (7 weeks, male) were fed a HFD (43% fat, 20 kJ/g) for 16 weeks. In the last 6 weeks, half of the mice were exposed to tobacco-flavoured e-vapour from nicotine-containing (18 mg/L) or nicotine-free (0 mg/L) e-fluids twice daily. Short-term memory function was measured in week 15. HFD alone did not impair memory function, but increased brain phosphorylated (p)-Tau and astrogliosis marker, while neuron and microglia levels were decreased. E-vapour exposure significantly impaired short-term memory function independent of diet and nicotine. Nicotine free e-vapour induced greater changes compared to the nicotine e-vapour and included, increased systemic cytokines, increased brain p-Tau and decreased postsynaptic density protein (PSD)-95 levels in chow-fed mice, and decreased astrogliosis marker, increased microglia and increased glycogen synthase kinase levels in HFD-fed mice. Increased hippocampal apoptosis was also differentially observed in chow and HFD mice. In conclusion, E-vapour exposure impaired short-term memory independent of diet and nicotine, and was correlated to increased systemic inflammation, reduced PSD-95 level and increased astrogliosis in chow-fed mice, but decreased gliosis and increased microglia in HFD-fed mice, indicating the inflammatory nature of e-vapour leading to short term memory impairment.
Chen, L-J, Humphrey, SJ, Zhu, J-L, Zhu, F-F, Wang, X-Q, Wang, X, Wen, J, Yang, H-B & Gale, PA 2021, 'A Two-Dimensional Metallacycle Cross-Linked Switchable Polymer for Fast and Highly Efficient Phosphorylated Peptide Enrichment', Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 143, no. 22, pp. 8295-8304.
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Chen, P, Bornhorst, J, Patton, S, Bagai, K, Nitin, R, Miah, M, Hare, DJ, Kysenius, K, Crouch, PJ, Xiong, L, Rouleau, GA, Schwerdtle, T, Connor, J, Aschner, M, Bowman, AB & Walters, AS 2021, 'A potential role for zinc in restless legs syndrome', Sleep, vol. 44, no. 4.
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Abstract Study Objectives Evaluate serum and brain noniron metals in the pathology and genetics of restless legs syndrome (RLS). Methods In two independent studies (cohorts 1 and 2), in which subjects either remained on medications or tapered off medications, we analyzed serum levels of iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc both in RLS patients and controls, and assessed the prevalence of the MEIS1 and BTBD9 risk alleles previously established through genome-wide association studies. Human brain sections and a nematode genetic model were also quantified for metal levels using mass spectrometry. Results We found a significant enrichment for the BTBD9 risk genotype in the RLS affected group compared to control (p = 0.0252), consistent with previous literature. Serum (p = 0.0458 and p = 0.0139 for study cohorts 1 and 2, respectively) and brain (p = 0.0413) zinc levels were significantly elevated in the RLS patients versus control subjects. Conclusion We show for the first time that serum and brain levels of zinc are elevated in RLS. Further, we confirm the BTBD9 genetic risk factor in a new population, although the zinc changes were not significantly associated with risk genotypes. Zinc and iron homeostasis are interrelated, and zinc biology impacts neurotransmitter systems previously linked to RLS. Given the modest albeit statistically significant increase in serum zinc of ~20%, and the lack of association with two known genetic risk fa...
Chen, S-Y, Beretta, M, Alexopoulos, SJ, Shah, DP, Olzomer, EM, Hargett, SR, Childress, ES, Salamoun, JM, Aleksovska, I, Roseblade, A, Cranfield, C, Rawling, T, Quinlan, KGR, Morris, MJ, Tucker, SP, Santos, WL & Hoehn, KL 2021, 'Mitochondrial uncoupler SHC517 reverses obesity in mice without affecting food intake', Metabolism, vol. 117, pp. 154724-154724.
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Aims
Mitochondrial uncouplers decrease caloric efficiency and have potential therapeutic benefits for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders. Herein we investigate the metabolic and physiologic effects of a recently identified small molecule mitochondrial uncoupler named SHC517 in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity.Methods
SHC517 was administered as an admixture in food. The effect of SHC517 on in vivo energy expenditure and respiratory quotient was determined by indirect calorimetry. A dose-finding obesity prevention study was performed by starting SHC517 treatment concomitant with high fat diet for a period of 12 days. An obesity reversal study was performed by feeding mice western diet for 4 weeks prior to SHC517 treatment for 7 weeks. Biochemical assays were used to determine changes in glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and cholesterol. SHC517 concentrations were determined by mass spectrometry.Results
SHC517 increased lipid oxidation without affecting body temperature. SHC517 prevented diet-induced obesity when administered at 0.05% and 0.1% w/w in high fat diet and reversed established obesity when tested at the 0.05% dose. In the obesity reversal model, SHC517 restored adiposity to levels similar to chow-fed control mice without affecting food intake or lean body mass. SHC517 improved glucose tolerance and fasting glucose levels when administered in both the obesity prevention and obesity reversal modes.Conclusions
SHC517 is a mitochondrial uncoupler with potent anti-obesity and insulin sensitizing effects in mice. SHC517 reversed obesity without altering food intake or compromising lean mass, effects that are highly sought-after in anti-obesity therapeutics.
Chen, X, Yang, L, Liang, S, Dang, P, Jin, D, Cheng, Z & Lin, J 2021, 'Entropy-driven strand displacement reaction for ultrasensitive detection of circulating tumor DNA based on upconversion and Fe3O4 nanocrystals', Science China Materials, vol. 64, no. 10, pp. 2593-2600.
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Early detection of cancer biomarkers applied in real-time disease diagnosis and therapies can increase the survival rate of patients. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a typical cancer biomarker plays a great role in the process of tumor disease monitoring, especially in early diagnosis. Unfortunately, most ctDNA detection systems have not been widely used due to their low sensitivity, poor specificity, and high cost. Herein, we developed an alternative ctDNA detection system to present the levels of ctDNA by recording the fluorescence signals of the system containing upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), Fe3O4, and entropy-driven strand displacement reaction. The method has a practical sensitivity with a wide linear range from 100 amol L−1 to 1 nmol L−1 and a low detection limit of 1.6 amol L−1. Furthermore, the system demonstrates a practical application in mouse blood serum samples and meets the requirements for rapid, sensitive, specific, and economical diagnosis of cancers. Thus, this ctDNA detection system may have great potential for ctDNA detection and clinical diagnosis.
Chen, Y, Li, C, White, S, Nonahal, M, Xu, Z-Q, Watanabe, K, Taniguchi, T, Toth, M, Tran, TT & Aharonovich, I 2021, 'Generation of High-Density Quantum Emitters in High-Quality, Exfoliated Hexagonal Boron Nitride', ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 13, no. 39, pp. 47283-47292.
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Single-photon emitters in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) are promising constituents for integrated quantum photonics. Specifically, engineering these emitters in large-area, high-quality, exfoliated hBN is needed for their incorporation into photonic devices and two dimensional heterostructures. Here, we report on two different routes to generate high-density quantum emitters with excellent optical properties-including high brightness and photostability. We study in detail high-temperature annealing and plasma treatments as an efficient means to generate dense emitters. We show that both an optimal oxygen flow rate and annealing temperature are required for the formation of high-density quantum emitters. In parallel, we demonstrate that the plasma treatment in various environments, followed by standard annealing is also an effective route for emission engineering. Our work provides vital information for the fabrication of quantum emitters in high-quality, exfoliated hBN flakes and paves the way toward the integration of the quantum emitters with photonic devices.
Chen, Y, Wang, T, Tian, H, Su, D, Zhang, Q & Wang, G 2021, 'Advances in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: From Academic Research to Commercial Viability', Advanced Materials, vol. 33, no. 29, pp. 1-67.
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AbstractLithium‐ion batteries, which have revolutionized portable electronics over the past three decades, were eventually recognized with the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry. As the energy density of current lithium‐ion batteries is approaching its limit, developing new battery technologies beyond lithium‐ion chemistry is significant for next‐generation high energy storage. Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries, which rely on the reversible redox reactions between lithium and sulfur, appears to be a promising energy storage system to take over from the conventional lithium‐ion batteries for next‐generation energy storage owing to their overwhelming energy density compared to the existing lithium‐ion batteries today. Over the past 60 years, especially the past decade, significant academic and commercial progress has been made on Li–S batteries. From the concept of the sulfur cathode first proposed in the 1960s to the current commercial Li–S batteries used in unmanned aircraft, the story of Li–S batteries is full of breakthroughs and back tracing steps. Herein, the development and advancement of Li–S batteries in terms of sulfur‐based composite cathode design, separator modification, binder improvement, electrolyte optimization, and lithium metal protection is summarized. An outlook on the future directions and prospects for Li–S batteries is also offered.
Chen, Y, Westerhausen, MT, Li, C, White, S, Bradac, C, Bendavid, A, Toth, M, Aharonovich, I & Tran, TT 2021, 'Solvent-Exfoliated Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanoflakes for Quantum Emitters', ACS Applied Nano Materials, vol. 4, no. 10, pp. 10449-10457.
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Quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) flakes have recently emerged as a promising platform for nanophotonic and quantum applications. The solvent-exfoliation process of these flakes has, however, remained largely unexplored. In this work, we demonstrate a surfactant-assisted exfoliation technique in an aqueous solution to exfoliate a variety of commercially available hBN powders into hBN nanoflakes. We show that the selection of hBN powder greatly impacts the optical properties of the resultant quantum emitters embedded in exfoliated hBN nanoflakes. We find that the sample with the best optical performance also shows the lowest impurity levels in its starting hBN powder. Our study provides further insight into quantum emitter fabrication in hBN and tailoring of their optical properties.
Chen, Y, Xu, X, Li, C, Bendavid, A, Westerhausen, MT, Bradac, C, Toth, M, Aharonovich, I & Tran, TT 2021, 'Bottom‐Up Synthesis of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanoparticles with Intensity‐Stabilized Quantum Emitters', Small, vol. 17, no. 17, pp. 1-7.
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AbstractFluorescent nanoparticles are widely utilized in a large range of nanoscale imaging and sensing applications. While ultra‐small nanoparticles (size ≤10 nm) are highly desirable, at this size range, their photostability can be compromised due to effects such as intensity fluctuation and spectral diffusion caused by interaction with surface states. In this article, a facile, bottom‐up technique for the fabrication of sub‐10‐nm hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanoparticles hosting photostable bright emitters via a catalyst‐free hydrothermal reaction between boric acid and melamine is demonstrated. A simple stabilization protocol that significantly reduces intensity fluctuation by ≈85% and narrows the emission linewidth by ≈14% by employing a common sol–gel silica coating process is also implemented. This study advances a promising strategy for the scalable, bottom‐up synthesis of high‐quality quantum emitters in hBN nanoparticles.
Chong, H, Tan, C, Fang, S, Chen, X, Tao, Q, Yuan, X, Li, J, Zhai, C, Fei, C, Yang, D, Fan, H, Shao, H, Qin, A, Wang, G, Shi, Z, Z’hang, T, Yao, H, Li, H & Wang, C 2021, 'BODIPY-Appended Pt(II) Complexes with High Toxicities and Anti-chemoresistance Performances in a Cisplatin Resistant In Vivo Model', Inorganic Chemistry, vol. 60, no. 13, pp. 10047-10055.
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Two novel fluorophore (BODIPY)-bearing complexes, pyriplatin (mCBP) and pyrimidine-chelated cisplatin (dCBP), were synthesized and characterized. The additional BODIPY-pyridine/pyridimine motifs of the two Pt(II) complexes resulted in stronger interactions with DNA in comparison with those of cisplatin. mCBP and cisplatin caused relative decreases in life span and body length in a cisplatin resistant in vivo model, N2 (wild-type) Caenorhabditis elegans. In contrast, dCBP resulted in a dramatic reduction in the two physiological parameters in N2 C. elegans, indicating high toxicity and sensitivity. The resistance factors (RF) of cisplatin, mCBP, and dCBP were determined to be 2.46, 1.04, and 0.91, respectively. The increasing RF folds for mCBP and dCBP against cisplatin were 2.36 and 2.70, respectively. This suggested they were featured with improved anti-chemoresistance capabilities. It is noteworthy that dCBP showed lowest lethal concentration (LC50) values of 0.56 and 0.61 mM in cisplatin resistant and sensitive in vivo models, respectively. Upregulation of several evolutionary conservation genes that regulate cisplatin chemoresistance through cisplatin effluxing, the DNA damage response, the unfolded protein response, and detoxification (asna-1, parp-1, enpl-1, and skn-1) was observed upon exposure to cisplatin but not to mCBP and dCBP. This could explain the improved anti-chemoresistance performances of synthesized Pt(II) complexes.
Chong, H, Xu, Y, Han, Y, Yan, C, Su, D & Wang, C 2021, 'Pillar[5]arene‐based “Three‐components” Supramolecular Assembly and the Performance of Nitrobenzene‐based Explosive Fluorescence Sensing', ChemistrySelect, vol. 6, no. 34, pp. 9363-9367.
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AbstractA “three‐components” supramolecular assembly has been fabricated by mixing 2, 2’: 6’, 2”‐terpyridine attached pillar[5]arene, cyano and triazole bearing alkyl chain and Zn2+ in solvent of CHCl3 and CH3CN. The driving forces for the assembly were believed to be host‐guest and metal chelating interactions as characterized by 1H NMR, UV‐vis and fluorescence spectra. The supramolecular organo‐gel formed upon the concentration of components amount to 1 M. The supramolecular displayed nitrobenzene based explosive sensing capability using picric acid, ortho‐nitrobenzene and phenol as samples. The assembly was most sensitive towards picric acid among the three analytes. The limit of detection for picric acid was determined to be 1.66 × 10−4 M.
Chong, H, Zhang, G, Wu, Y, Xu, B, Wang, G & Wang, C 2021, 'Enantioselective recognition of amino acid based on electrochemical deposition and X-ray diffraction technology', Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, vol. 218, pp. 111398-111398.
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Addition of D-Asp in the electrochemical deposition process of Bismuth film resulted the generation of a new diffraction peak in X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum. This phenomenon was not observed in the situation of L-Asp. The new diffraction peak might suggest D-Asp could result in the generation of a specific Bismuth structure. Enantioselective recognition of D- and L-Asp can be realized based on this new XRD peak. The limit of detection was determined to be 3.5 × 10-8 and 1.7 × 10-8 mol L-1 for D- and L-Asp, respectively. The XRD spectra of electrodeposited Copper films fabricated in the presence of D- or L-Asp showed different lattice plane diffraction peak intensity ratios. The reason was believed to be chirality induced different binding capabilities of Asp enantiomers that influenced Copper film growth. Therefore, the combination of electrochemical deposition using Copper as metal source and XRD technology can be used to achieve enantioselective recognition of Asp. The limit of detection for D- and L-Asp were determined to be 1.5 × 10-10 and 1.2 × 10-11 mol L-1, respectively.
Chong, WC, Shastri, MD, Peterson, GM, Patel, RP, Pathinayake, PS, Dua, K, Hansbro, NG, Hsu, AC, Wark, PA, Shukla, SD, Johansen, MD, Schroder, K & Hansbro, PM 2021, 'The complex interplay between endoplasmic reticulum stress and the NLRP3 inflammasome: a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory disorders', Clinical & Translational Immunology, vol. 10, no. 2, p. e1247.
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AbstractInflammation is the result of a complex network of cellular and molecular interactions and mechanisms that facilitate immune protection against intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli, particularly pathogens, to maintain homeostasis and promote tissue healing. However, dysregulation in the immune system elicits excess/abnormal inflammation resulting in unintended tissue damage and causes major inflammatory diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, sarcoidosis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is now widely accepted that both endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and inflammasomes play critical roles in activating inflammatory signalling cascades. Notably, evidence is mounting for the involvement of ER stress in exacerbating inflammasome‐induced inflammatory cascades, which may provide a new axis for therapeutic targeting in a range of inflammatory disorders. Here, we comprehensively review the roles, mechanisms and interactions of both ER stress and inflammasomes, as well as their interconnected relationships in inflammatory signalling cascades. We also discuss novel therapeutic strategies that are being developed to treat ER stress‐ and inflammasome‐related inflammatory disorders.
Chopra, N, Menounos, S, Choi, JP, Hansbro, PM, Diwan, AD & Das, A 2021, 'Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier: Its Role in Spinal Disorders and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies', NeuroSci, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1-27.
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The blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) has been long thought of as a functional equivalent to the blood-brain barrier (BBB), restricting blood flow into the spinal cord. The spinal cord is supported by various disc tissues that provide agility and has different local immune responses compared to the brain. Though physiologically, structural components of the BSCB and BBB share many similarities, the clinical landscape significantly differs. Thus, it is crucial to understand the composition of BSCB and also to establish the cause–effect relationship with aberrations and spinal cord dysfunctions. Here, we provide a descriptive analysis of the anatomy, current techniques to assess the impairment of BSCB, associated risk factors and impact of spinal disorders such as spinal cord injury (SCI), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), peripheral nerve injury (PNI), ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cavernous malformations (SCM) and cancer on BSCB dysfunction. Along with diagnostic and mechanistic analyses, we also provide an up-to-date account of available therapeutic options for BSCB repair. We emphasize the need to address BSCB as an individual entity and direct future research towards it.
Chotithammakul, S, Cortie, MB & Pissuwan, D 2021, 'Comparison of Single- and Mixed-Sized Gold Nanoparticles on Lateral Flow Assay for Albumin Detection', Biosensors, vol. 11, no. 7, pp. 209-209.
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The sensitivity and reproducibility of the lateral flow assay can be influenced by multiple factors, such as the size of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) employed. Here, we evaluated the analytical performance of single-sized and mixed-sized GNPs using a simple lateral flow assay (LFA) platform. This platform was used as a model assay to diagnose albumin levels and demonstrate the analytical performance of single-sized and mixed-sized GNPs in LFA tests. Two sizes of GNPs@anti-bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugate proteins were mixed at different ratios. The unique optical properties of the GNPs induced a distinguishing color-shedding effect on the single- and mixed-sized GNPs@anti-BSA conjugates interacting with the target analyte BSA spotted on the test line. The use of mixed-sized GNPs@anti-BSA conjugates enhanced signal relative to the 20 nm GNPs, and provided superior stability compared with solely employing the large GNPs (50 nm). The proposed platform in this study could provide an efficient BSA detection mechanism that can be utilized as a model biomarker for confronting chronic kidney disease.
Chow, WS, Larkum, AWD, Pfündel, E, Ritchie, RJ, Scheer, H & Strid, Å 2021, 'A tribute to Robert John Porra (august 7, 1931–may 16, 2019)', Photosynthesis Research, vol. 147, no. 2, pp. 125-130.
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Chowdhury, MR, Chowdhury, S, Rahman, MA, Islam, MR, Mahmud, MAP & Kouzani, AZ 2021, 'Model Predictive Control Based Advanced Switching Strategy for H-Bridge Converter Used in SMES Applications to Obtain Even Loss Sharing', IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1-6.
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Christie, MJ, Irving, AT, Forster, SC, Marsland, BJ, Hansbro, PM, Hertzog, PJ, Nold-Petry, CA & Nold, MF 2021, 'Of bats and men: Immunomodulatory treatment options for COVID-19 guided by the immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 infection', Science Immunology, vol. 6, no. 63, p. eabd0205.
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SARS-CoV-2 evades immune recognition in humans but not bats, pointing to potential strategies for therapeutic intervention.
Chu, Z, Gao, X, Wang, C, Wang, T & Wang, G 2021, 'Metal–organic frameworks as separators and electrolytes for lithium–sulfur batteries', Journal of Materials Chemistry A, vol. 9, no. 12, pp. 7301-7316.
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This review provides a specialized summary of metal–organic frameworks as separators and electrolytes for lithium–sulfur batteries, including design strategies and applications.
Ciobanu, L & Elder, M 2021, 'The complexity of solution sets to equations in hyperbolic groups', Israel Journal of Mathematics, vol. 245, no. 2, pp. 869-920.
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Clancy, L, Philp, M, Shimmon, R & Fu, S 2021, 'Development and validation of a color spot test method for the presumptive detection of 25‐NBOMe compounds', Drug Testing and Analysis, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 929-943.
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AbstractThe great increase of new psychoactive substances over the past decade has substantially transformed the illicit drug industry to an ever‐changing dynamic market. 25‐NBOMe compounds are just one of these new substance groups that pose a public health risk in many countries around the world. These highly potent, hallucinogenic phenethylamines have previously been sold as “legal highs” or “synthetic LSD” and the necessity to rapidly identify their presence is crucial. While there are many laboratory‐based analytical methods capable of identifying these compounds, the lack of presumptive test methods indicates the need for a specific and timely test that could be used in the field. Herein we outline the developed chemical spot test that can selectively identify the presence of 25‐NBOMe compounds and related analogs through the reaction with a substituted benzoquinone reagent under basic conditions. This test method has been comprehensively validated showing a high level of selectivity, specificity, and precision with only two other illicit substances producing similar positive results as 25‐NBOMe and few false‐negative results seen. The working limit of detection was determined to be 225 μg and there was no cross‐reactivity from potential adulterants of significance. This test has also been shown to work directly with blotter papers containing 25‐NBOMe compounds, indicating no interference from this common matrix and the ability to differentiate these compounds from LSD. This method shows a high potential to be translated to a field compatible test that is simple, rapid, and selective for 25‐NBOMe compounds.
Clark, AS, Blanco-Redondo, A & Aharonovich, I 2021, 'Special Topic on Integrated Quantum Photonics', APL Photonics, vol. 6, no. 12, pp. 120401-120401.
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The realization of scalable, real world devices in quantum technologies requires myriad new approaches and hardware components. Integrated photonics play a crucial role in many applications in quantum information and quantum sensing, enabling the realization of key components such as new light sources, waveguides, resonators, and detectors. The field of integrated quantum photonics is booming, and an increasing number of research groups are contributing to the accelerating efforts to study fundamental and technological challenges at the intersection of quantum optics, nanophotonics, and hybrid integrated devices. This Special Topic Collection is dedicated to highlighting important progress in the field of integrated quantum photonics and presenting new cutting-edge results, both experimental and theoretical, toward the common goal of exploring quantum photonic phenomena.
Clarke, C, Singh, M, Tawfik, SA, Xu, X, Spencer, MJS, Ramanathan, R, Reineck, P, Bansal, V & Ton-That, C 2021, 'Mono- to few-layer non-van der Waals 2D lanthanide-doped NaYF4nanosheets with upconversion luminescence', 2D Materials, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 015005-015005.
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AbstractNaYF4is an efficient host material for lanthanide-based upconversion luminescence and has attracted immense interest for potential applications in photovoltaics, lasers and bioimaging. However, being a non-van der Waals (non-vdW) material, there have been thus far no reports on exfoliation of bulk NaYF4to nanosheets and their upconversion luminescence properties. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the fabrication of lanthanide-containing NaYF42D nanosheets using a soft liquid-phase exfoliation method and report on their optical, electronic and chemical characteristics. The nanosheets exfoliated from NaYF4:Yb,Er microcrystals consisting mainly ofβ-NaYF4become enriched inα-NaYF4post exfoliation and have a large micron-sized planar area with a preferential (100) surface orientation. X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirms that both Yb and Er doping ions are retained in the exfoliated nanosheets. Through centrifugation, NaYF42D nanosheets are successfully obtained with thicknesses ranging from a monolayer to tens of layers. Optical analysis of individual nanosheets shows that they exhibit both optical down-conversion and upconversion properties, albeit with reduced emission intensities compared with the parent microparticles. Further exploration of their electronic structure by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and photoelectron spectroscopy reveals the formation of surface F atom defects and a shrinkage of the electronic bandgap in ultrathin nanosheets. Our findings will trigger further interest in non-vdW 2D upconversion nanomaterials.
Clases, D, Ueland, M, Gonzalez de Vega, R, Doble, P & Pröfrock, D 2021, 'Quantitative speciation of volatile sulphur compounds from human cadavers by GC-ICP-MS', Talanta, vol. 221, pp. 121424-121424.
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This work demonstrates the first forensic application of GC-ICP-MS for improved investigations of volatile organic compounds originating from a decomposing body. Volatile organic compounds were extracted from the headspace of human remains using sorbent tubes over a total time of 39 days. To account for naturally abundant species, control sites were prepared and sampled accordingly. All samples were spiked with an internal standard to minimise drift effects and errors during sample preparation and further analysis. Compound independent quantification was possible from a single chromatogram with a standard mix containing volatile pesticide compounds representing different mass fractions of target elements for calibration. Phosphorus, sulphur and chlorine were investigated as biologically relevant elements, which potentially form detectable volatile species during decomposition. The limits of detection of these elements in the headspace were 0.7, 5.4 and 1.6 ng/L, respectively. For sulphur, we identified abundant species which increased in concentrations of up to 1310 ng/L in the headspace above the remains. The concentrations were time dependent and show potential as forensic markers to determine post-mortem intervals or decomposition states. The universal quantification, standardisation and the high sensitivity of GC-ICP-MS augments traditional GC-MS analyses.
Clases, D, Ueland, M, Gonzalez de Vega, R, Doble, P & Pröfrock, D 2021, 'Quantitative speciation of volatile sulphur compounds from human cadavers by GC-ICP-MS.', Talanta, vol. 221, pp. 1-8.
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This work demonstrates the first forensic application of GC-ICP-MS for improved investigations of volatile organic compounds originating from a decomposing body. Volatile organic compounds were extracted from the headspace of human remains using sorbent tubes over a total time of 39 days. To account for naturally abundant species, control sites were prepared and sampled accordingly. All samples were spiked with an internal standard to minimise drift effects and errors during sample preparation and further analysis. Compound independent quantification was possible from a single chromatogram with a standard mix containing volatile pesticide compounds representing different mass fractions of target elements for calibration. Phosphorus, sulphur and chlorine were investigated as biologically relevant elements, which potentially form detectable volatile species during decomposition. The limits of detection of these elements in the headspace were 0.7, 5.4 and 1.6 ng/L, respectively. For sulphur, we identified abundant species which increased in concentrations of up to 1310 ng/L in the headspace above the remains. The concentrations were time dependent and show potential as forensic markers to determine post-mortem intervals or decomposition states. The universal quantification, standardisation and the high sensitivity of GC-ICP-MS augments traditional GC-MS analyses.
Clases, D, Ueland, M, Gonzalez de Vega, R, Doble, P & Pröfrock, D 2021, 'Quantitative speciation of volatile sulphur compounds from human cadavers by GC-ICP-MS.', Talanta, vol. 221, p. 121424.
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This work demonstrates the first forensic application of GC-ICP-MS for improved investigations of volatile organic compounds originating from a decomposing body. Volatile organic compounds were extracted from the headspace of human remains using sorbent tubes over a total time of 39 days. To account for naturally abundant species, control sites were prepared and sampled accordingly. All samples were spiked with an internal standard to minimise drift effects and errors during sample preparation and further analysis. Compound independent quantification was possible from a single chromatogram with a standard mix containing volatile pesticide compounds representing different mass fractions of target elements for calibration. Phosphorus, sulphur and chlorine were investigated as biologically relevant elements, which potentially form detectable volatile species during decomposition. The limits of detection of these elements in the headspace were 0.7, 5.4 and 1.6 ng/L, respectively. For sulphur, we identified abundant species which increased in concentrations of up to 1310 ng/L in the headspace above the remains. The concentrations were time dependent and show potential as forensic markers to determine post-mortem intervals or decomposition states. The universal quantification, standardisation and the high sensitivity of GC-ICP-MS augments traditional GC-MS analyses.
Clases, D, Ueland, M, Gonzalez, DVR, Doble, P & Pröfrock, D 2021, 'Quantitative speciation of volatile sulphur compounds from human cadavers by GC-ICP-MS.', Talanta, vol. 221, pp. 1-8.
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This work demonstrates the first forensic application of GC-ICP-MS for improved investigations of volatile organic compounds originating from a decomposing body. Volatile organic compounds were extracted from the headspace of human remains using sorbent tubes over a total time of 39 days. To account for naturally abundant species, control sites were prepared and sampled accordingly. All samples were spiked with an internal standard to minimise drift effects and errors during sample preparation and further analysis. Compound independent quantification was possible from a single chromatogram with a standard mix containing volatile pesticide compounds representing different mass fractions of target elements for calibration. Phosphorus, sulphur and chlorine were investigated as biologically relevant elements, which potentially form detectable volatile species during decomposition. The limits of detection of these elements in the headspace were 0.7, 5.4 and 1.6 ng/L, respectively. For sulphur, we identified abundant species which increased in concentrations of up to 1310 ng/L in the headspace above the remains. The concentrations were time dependent and show potential as forensic markers to determine post-mortem intervals or decomposition states. The universal quantification, standardisation and the high sensitivity of GC-ICP-MS augments traditional GC-MS analyses.
Clifton, J, Osman, EO, Suggett, DJ & Smith, DJ 2021, 'Resolving conservation and development tensions in a small island state: A governance analysis of Curieuse Marine National Park, Seychelles', Marine Policy, vol. 127, pp. 103617-103617.
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© 2019 Elsevier Ltd The management and conservation of marine resources in Seychelles, a small island developing state (SIDS) in the western Indian Ocean, is fundamental to maintaining the flow of international visitors which forms the mainstay of the nation's economy. There is an increasing trend towards empowering non-governmental organisations and parastatal entities with protected area management responsibilities, which partly reflects the chronic underfunding of the state protected area management institution. This paper explores these and related issues through a governance analysis of Curieuse Marine National Park, which is the most popular state-owned marine national park in terms of recorded visitor numbers. This demonstrates that the inability to implement economic incentives through not fully capitalising on the use and non-use values of the park has deleterious consequences for managing the combined impacts of tourism and fisheries on the ecological assets of the park. Furthermore, the capacity of the state management institution is being eroded through a focus on the development of an extensive network of new marine protected areas under the direction of an international non-governmental organisation. Suggestions are made that could strengthen economic, participative and interpretative incentives to provide a more sustainable basis for marine national park management.
Coetzee, L-CC, Muller, AJ, Adeyinka, AS, Sonopo, MS & Williams, DBG 2021, 'Synthesis, characterisation and DFT studies of [3,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl](phenyl)methanone derivatives', Results in Chemistry, vol. 3, pp. 100165-100165.
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Coignard, J, Lush, M, Beesley, J, O’Mara, TA, Dennis, J, Tyrer, JP, Barnes, DR, McGuffog, L, Leslie, G, Bolla, MK, Adank, MA, Agata, S, Ahearn, T, Aittomäki, K, Andrulis, IL, Anton-Culver, H, Arndt, V, Arnold, N, Aronson, KJ, Arun, BK, Augustinsson, A, Azzollini, J, Barrowdale, D, Baynes, C, Becher, H, Bermisheva, M, Bernstein, L, Białkowska, K, Blomqvist, C, Bojesen, SE, Bonanni, B, Borg, A, Brauch, H, Brenner, H, Burwinkel, B, Buys, SS, Caldés, T, Caligo, MA, Campa, D, Carter, BD, Castelao, JE, Chang-Claude, J, Chanock, SJ, Chung, WK, Claes, KBM, Clarke, CL, Bertrand, O, Caputo, S, Dupré, A, Le Mentec, M, Belotti, M, Birot, A-M, Buecher, B, Fourme, E, Gauthier-Villars, M, Golmard, L, Houdayer, C, Moncoutier, V, de Pauw, A, Saule, C, Sinilnikova, O, Mazoyer, S, Damiola, F, Barjhoux, L, Verny-Pierre, C, Léone, M, Boutry-Kryza, N, Calender, A, Giraud, S, Caron, O, Guillaud-Bataille, M, Bressac-de-Paillerets, B, Bignon, Y-J, Uhrhammer, N, Lasset, C, Bonadona, V, Berthet, P, Vaur, D, Castera, L, Noguchi, T, Popovici, C, Sobol, H, Bourdon, V, Noguchi, T, Remenieras, A, Noguès, C, Coupier, I, Pujol, P, Dumont, A, Révillion, F, Adenis, C, Muller, D, Barouk-Simonet, E, Bonnet, F, Bubien, V, Sevenet, N, Longy, M, Toulas, C, Guimbaud, R, Gladieff, L, Feillel, V, Leroux, D, Dreyfus, H, Rebischung, C, Peysselon, M, Coron, F, Faivre, L, Baurand, A, Jacquot, C, Bertolone, G, Lizard, S, Prieur, F, Lebrun, M, Kientz, C, Ferrer, SF, Mari, V, Vénat-Bouvet, L, Delnatte, C, Bézieau, S, Mortemousque, I, Coulet, F, Colas, C, Soubrier, F, Warcoin, M, Sokolowska, J, Bronner, M, Collonge-Rame, M-A, Damette, A, Gesta, P, Lallaoui, H, Chiesa, J, Molina-Gomes, D, Ingster, O, Gregory, H, Miedzybrodzka, Z, Morrison, PJ, Ong, K-R, Donaldson, A, Rogers, MT, Kennedy, MJ, Porteous, ME, Brewer, C, Davidson, R, Izatt, L, Brady, A, Barwell, J, Adlard, J, Foo, C, Lalloo, F, Side, LE, Eason, J, Henderson, A, Walker, L, Eeles, RA, Cook, J, Snape, K, Eccles, D, Murray, A, McCann, E, Collée, JM, Conroy, DM, Czene, K, Daly, MB, Devilee, P, Diez, O, Ding, YC, Domchek, SM, Dörk, T, dos-Santos-Silva, I, Dunning, AM, Dwek, M, Eccles, DM, Eliassen, AH, Engel, C, Eriksson, M, Evans, DG, Fasching, PA, Flyger, H, Fostira, F, Friedman, E, Fritschi, L, Frost, D, Gago-Dominguez, M, Gapstur, SM, Garber, J, Garcia-Barberan, V, García-Closas, M, García-Sáenz, JA, Gaudet, MM & et al. 2021, 'A case-only study to identify genetic modifiers of breast cancer risk for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers', Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1.
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AbstractBreast cancer (BC) risk forBRCA1andBRCA2mutation carriers varies by genetic and familial factors. About 50 common variants have been shown to modify BC risk for mutation carriers. All but three, were identified in general population studies. Other mutation carrier-specific susceptibility variants may exist but studies of mutation carriers have so far been underpowered. We conduct a novel case-only genome-wide association study comparing genotype frequencies between 60,212 general population BC cases and 13,007 cases withBRCA1orBRCA2mutations. We identify robust novel associations for 2 variants with BC forBRCA1and 3 forBRCA2mutation carriers,P < 10−8, at 5 loci, which are not associated with risk in the general population. They include rs60882887 at 11p11.2 whereMADD,SP11andEIF1, genes previously implicated in BC biology, are predicted as potential targets. These findings will contribute towards customising BC polygenic risk scores forBRCA1andBRCA2mutation carriers.
Cole, AJ, Dickson, K-A, Liddle, C, Stirzaker, C, Shah, JS, Clifton-Bligh, R & Marsh, DJ 2021, 'Ubiquitin chromatin remodelling after DNA damage is associated with the expression of key cancer genes and pathways', Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 1011-1027.
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Cole, VJ, Parker, LM, Scanes, E, Wright, J, Barnett, L & Ross, PM 2021, 'Climate change alters shellfish reef communities: A temperate mesocosm experiment', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 173, pp. 113113-113113.
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Commault, AS, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Herdean, A, Fabris, M, Jaramillo-Madrid, AC, Abbriano, RM, Ralph, PJ & Pernice, M 2021, 'Methyl Jasmonate and Methyl-β-Cyclodextrin Individually Boost Triterpenoid Biosynthesis in Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii UVM4', Pharmaceuticals, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 125-125.
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The commercialisation of valuable plant triterpenoids faces major challenges, including low abundance in natural hosts and costly downstream purification procedures. Endeavours to produce these compounds at industrial scale using microbial systems are gaining attention. Here, we report on a strategy to enrich the biomass of the biotechnologically-relevant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii strain UVM4 with valuable triterpenes, such as squalene and (S)-2,3-epoxysqualene. C. reinhardtii UVM4 was subjected to the elicitor compounds methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and methyl-β-cyclodextrine (MβCD) to increase triterpene yields. MeJA treatment triggered oxidative stress, arrested growth, and altered the photosynthetic activity of the cells, while increasing squalene, (S)-2,3-epoxysqualene, and cycloartenol contents. Applying MβCD to cultures of C. reinhardtii lead to the sequestration of the two main sterols (ergosterol and 7-dehydroporiferasterol) into the growth medium and the intracellular accumulation of the intermediate cycloartenol, without compromising cell growth. When MβCD was applied in combination with MeJA, it counteracted the negative effects of MeJA on cell growth and physiology, but no synergistic effect on triterpene yield was observed. Together, our findings provide strategies for the triterpene enrichment of microalgal biomass and medium.
Coni, EOC, Booth, DJ & Nagelkerken, I 2021, 'Novel species interactions and environmental conditions reduce foraging competency at the temperate range edge of a range-extending coral reef fish', Coral Reefs, vol. 40, no. 5, pp. 1525-1536.
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Coni, EOC, Nagelkerken, I, Ferreira, CM, Connell, SD & Booth, DJ 2021, 'Ocean acidification may slow the pace of tropicalization of temperate fish communities', Nature Climate Change, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 249-256.
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Cook, AM, Berry, N, Milner, KV & Leigh, A 2021, 'Water availability influences thermal safety margins for leaves', Functional Ecology, vol. 35, no. 10, pp. 2179-2189.
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AbstractOne application of plant physiological heat tolerance measurements is the assessment of vulnerability to increasing environmental temperatures under climatic change. A thermal safety margin (TSM), the difference between physiological tolerance and environmental temperature, is a common metric for the assessment of plant thermal vulnerability. However, there are biological and methodological aspects to consider when evaluating thermal vulnerability that have the potential to substantially alter the assessments. Two such aspects include the leaf to air temperature relationship and the scale at which air temperature data are collected.We grew plants of a desert species, Myoporum montanum, in situ under water‐stressed and well‐watered conditions, and measured their leaf temperatures and photosynthetic heat tolerance (T50 threshold) every third day over 12 days in summer. Thermal safety margins were calculated based on leaf temperatures and compared to those calculated with local and regional air temperatures.We found that heat tolerance and the thermal vulnerability assessment of a plant changed with water status. When water was readily available, plants maintained wide leaf temperature safety margins and displayed partial homeothermy. When cooling via transpiration was limited, increasing leaf temperature corresponded with occurrences of leaf poikilo‐ and megathermy, higher heat tolerance and narrower safety margins.Our study shows high physiological heat thresholds are not necessarily reflective of wide safety margins, but instead can indicate a greater vulnerability and increased risk of heat stress exposure. Calculating TSMs using air temperatures c...
Coulon, PML, Zlosnik, JEA & Déziel, E 2021, 'Presence of the Hmq System and Production of 4-Hydroxy-3-Methyl-2-Alkylquinolines Are Heterogeneously Distributed between Burkholderia cepacia Complex Species and More Prevalent among Environmental than Clinical Isolates', Microbiology Spectrum, vol. 9, no. 1.
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Environmental bacteria belonging to the various closely related species forming the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) can infect plants and animals, including humans. Their pathogenicity is regulated by intercellular communication, or quorum sensing, allowing them to collaborate instead of acting individually.
Counoupas, C, Johansen, MD, Stella, AO, Nguyen, DH, Ferguson, AL, Aggarwal, A, Bhattacharyya, ND, Grey, A, Hutchings, O, Patel, K, Siddiquee, R, Stewart, EL, Feng, CG, Hansbro, NG, Palendira, U, Steain, MC, Saunders, BM, Low, JKK, Mackay, JP, Kelleher, AD, Britton, WJ, Turville, SG, Hansbro, PM & Triccas, JA 2021, 'A single dose, BCG-adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine provides sterilising immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection', npj Vaccines, vol. 6, no. 1, p. 143.
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AbstractGlobal control of COVID-19 requires broadly accessible vaccines that are effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants. In this report, we exploit the immunostimulatory properties of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the existing tuberculosis vaccine, to deliver a vaccination regimen with potent SARS-CoV-2-specific protective immunity. Combination of BCG with a stabilised, trimeric form of SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen promoted rapid development of virus-specific IgG antibodies in the blood of vaccinated mice, that was further augmented by the addition of alum. This vaccine formulation, BCG:CoVac, induced high-titre SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies (NAbs) and Th1-biased cytokine release by vaccine-specific T cells, which correlated with the early emergence of T follicular helper cells in local lymph nodes and heightened levels of antigen-specific plasma B cells after vaccination. Vaccination of K18-hACE2 mice with a single dose of BCG:CoVac almost completely abrogated disease after SARS-CoV-2 challenge, with minimal inflammation and no detectable virus in the lungs of infected animals. Boosting BCG:CoVac-primed mice with a heterologous vaccine further increased SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses, which effectively neutralised B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. These findings demonstrate the potential for BCG-based vaccination to protect against major SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating globally.
Cranfield, C, Whelan, D, Cox, C, Shearwin, K, Ho, J, Allen, T, Shibuya, R, Hibino, E, Hayashi, K, dos Remedios, C & Li, A 2021, 'Announcing the call for the Special Issue on “The Australian Society for Biophysics (ASB) – 2021 Meeting”', Biophysical Reviews, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 485-486.
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This Commentary describes a call for submissions for the upcoming Special Issue focused on the research topics presented at the Australian Society of Biophysics (ASB) in 2020 and 2021. Submissions from past and present ASB members who could not attend these meetings are also welcome as contributions to this special issue.
Cranwell Schaeper, O, Fröch, JE, Kim, S, Mu, Z, Toth, M, Gao, W & Aharonovich, I 2021, 'Fabrication of Photonic Resonators in Bulk 4H‐SiC', Advanced Materials Technologies, vol. 6, no. 11, pp. 2100589-2100589.
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AbstractThe design and engineering of photonic architectures, suitable to enhance, collect and guide light on chip is needed for applications in quantum photonics and quantum optomechanics. In this work, a Faraday cage‐based oblique angle etch method is applied to fabricate various functional photonic devices from 4H Silicon Carbide (SiC)—a material that has attracted attention in recent years, due to its potential in optomechanics, nonlinear optics, and quantum information. The processing conditions are detailed and the geometrical and optical characteristics of the fabricated devices are thoroughly addressed. Employing photoluminescence measurements high‐quality factors are demonstrated for suspended microring resonators of up to 3500 in the visible range. Such devices will be applicable in the future to augment the properties of SiC in integrated on chip quantum photonics.
Cuartas-Villa, S & Webb, JK 2021, 'Nest site selection in a southern and northern population of the velvet gecko (Amalosia lesueurii)', Journal of Thermal Biology, vol. 102, pp. 103121-103121.
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In many oviparous reptiles, thermal conditions inside nests influence phenotypic traits of hatchlings that are linked to survival. Maternal nest-site selection can therefore have long-term implications for offspring and maternal fitness. We studied nest-site selection in a nocturnal lizard (Amalosia lesueurii) from south eastern Australia. Females of this species lay their eggs communally inside rock crevices, and previous studies have shown that maximum daily nest temperatures are positively correlated with maximum daily air temperatures. The incubation period extends for up to 100 d, so during hot summers, embryos may be exposed to stressful thermal conditions. Potentially, mothers could buffer their eggs from thermal extremes via careful selection of nest sites. To evaluate this, we studied nest site selection in a southern population (Morton) and a northern population (Yengo) that experience mild and hot summers respectively. In the field, we measured the physical characteristics, orientation, canopy cover and incident radiation load, and thermal regimes of nest sites and randomly available crevices during one of the hottest Australian summers on record (2018–2019). We found strong inter population differences in the degree of canopy cover and solar radiation loads above nest sites. Nest sites from Morton were more open, and received higher radiation loads, than nest sites from Yengo. Mean nest temperatures were similar in Morton and Yengo, but nests from Yengo experienced higher daily temperatures than those from Morton. During heatwaves, temperatures in some nests exceeded the species critical thermal maximum (39.9 °C) for several hours each day. Our results show that females can adjust nest-site choice to match local environments, but future research is necessary to clarify whether exposure to high temperatures influences hatching success or offspring phenotypes in this species.
Cwiklinski, K, Robinson, MW, Donnelly, S & Dalton, JP 2021, 'Complementary transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveal the cellular and molecular processes that drive growth and development of Fasciola hepatica in the host liver', BMC Genomics, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 1-16.
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AbstractBackgroundThe major pathogenesis associated withFasciola hepaticainfection results from the extensive tissue damage caused by the tunnelling and feeding activity of immature flukes during their migration, growth and development in the liver. This is compounded by the pathology caused by host innate and adaptive immune responses that struggle to simultaneously counter infection and repair tissue damage.ResultsComplementary transcriptomic and proteomic approaches defined theF. hepaticafactors associated with their migration in the liver, and the resulting immune-pathogenesis. Immature liver-stage flukes express ~ 8000 transcripts that are enriched for transcription and translation processes reflective of intensive protein production and signal transduction pathways. Key pathways that regulate neoblast/pluripotent cells, including the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, are particularly dominant and emphasise the importance of neoblast-like cells for the parasite’s rapid development. The liver-stage parasites display different secretome profiles, reflecting their distinct niche within the host, and supports the view that cathepsin peptidases, cathepsin peptidase inhibitors, saposins and leucine aminopeptidases play a central role in the parasite’s destructive migration, and digestion of host tissue and blood. Immature flukes are also primed for countering immune attack by secreting immunomodulating fatty acid binding proteins (FABP) and helminth defence molecules (FhHDM). Combined with published host microarray data, our results suggest that considerable immune cell infiltration and subsequent fibrosis of the liver tissue exacerbates oxidative stress within parenchyma that compels the expression of a range of antioxidant molecules within both host and parasite.
Cziesielski, MJ, Duarte, CM, Aalismail, N, Al-Hafedh, Y, Anton, A, Baalkhuyur, F, Baker, AC, Balke, T, Baums, IB, Berumen, M, Chalastani, VI, Cornwell, B, Daffonchio, D, Diele, K, Farooq, E, Gattuso, J-P, He, S, Lovelock, CE, Mcleod, E, Macreadie, PI, Marba, N, Martin, C, Muniz-Barreto, M, Kadinijappali, KP, Prihartato, P, Rabaoui, L, Saderne, V, Schmidt-Roach, S, Suggett, DJ, Sweet, M, Statton, J, Teicher, S, Trevathan-Tackett, SM, Joydas, TV, Yahya, R & Aranda, M 2021, 'Investing in Blue Natural Capital to Secure a Future for the Red Sea Ecosystems', Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 7, p. 603722.
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For millennia, coastal and marine ecosystems have adapted and flourished in the Red Sea’s unique environment. Surrounded by deserts on all sides, the Red Sea is subjected to high dust inputs and receives very little freshwater input, and so harbors a high salinity. Coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves flourish in this environment and provide socio-economic and environmental benefits to the bordering coastlines and countries. Interestingly, while coral reef ecosystems are currently experiencing rapid decline on a global scale, those in the Red Sea appear to be in relatively better shape. That said, they are certainly not immune to the stressors that cause degradation, such as increasing ocean temperature, acidification and pollution. In many regions, ecosystems are already severely deteriorating and are further threatened by increasing population pressure and large coastal development projects. Degradation of these marine habitats will lead to environmental costs, as well as significant economic losses. Therefore, it will result in a missed opportunity for the bordering countries to develop a sustainable blue economy and integrate innovative nature-based solutions. Recognizing that securing the Red Sea ecosystems’ future must occur in synergy with continued social and economic growth, we developed an action plan for the conservation, restoration, and growth of marine environments of the Red Sea. We then investigated the level of resources for financial and economic investment that may incentivize these activities. This study presents a set of commercially viable financial investment strategies, ecological innovations, and sustainable development opportunities, which can, if implemented strategically, help ensure long-term economic benefits while promoting environmental conservation. We make a case for investing in blue natural capital and propose a strategic development model that relies on maintaining the health of natural ecosystems to ...
D’Agostino, D, Burt, JA, Santinelli, V, Vaughan, GO, Fowler, AM, Reader, T, Taylor, BM, Hoey, AS, Cavalcante, GH, Bauman, AG & Feary, DA 2021, 'Growth impacts in a changing ocean: insights from two coral reef fishes in an extreme environment', Coral Reefs, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 433-446.
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AbstractDetermining the life-history consequences for fishes living in extreme and variable environments will be vital in predicting the likely impacts of ongoing climate change on reef fish demography. Here, we compare size-at-age and maximum body size of two common reef fish species (Lutjanus ehrenbergii and Pomacanthus maculosus) between the environmentally extreme Arabian/Persian Gulf (‘Arabian Gulf’) and adjacent comparably benign Oman Sea. Additionally, we use otolith increment width profiles to investigate the influence of temperature, salinity and productivity on the individual growth rates. Individuals of both species showed smaller size-at-age and lower maximum size in the Arabian Gulf compared to conspecifics in the less extreme and less variable environment of the Oman Sea, suggesting a life-history trade-off between size and metabolic demands. Salinity was the best environmental predictor of interannual growth across species and regions, with low growth corresponding to more saline conditions. However, salinity had a weaker negative effect on interannual growth of fishes in the Arabian Gulf than in the Oman Sea, indicating Arabian Gulf populations may be better able to acclimate to changing environmental conditions. Temperature had a weak positive effect on the interannual growth of fishes in the Arabian Gulf, suggesting that these populations may still be living within their thermal windows. Our results highlight the potential importance of osmoregulatory cost in impacting growth, and the need to consider the effect of multiple stressors when investigating the consequences of future climate change on fish demography.
Dadd-Daigle, P, Kirkby, K, Chowdhury, PR, Labbate, M & Chapman, TA 2021, 'The Verticillium wilt problem in Australian cotton', Australasian Plant Pathology, vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 129-135.
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© 2021, Australasian Plant Pathology Society Inc. Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne phytopathogen and the causal agent of Verticillium wilt. It affects many agriculturally important crops around the world, including cotton. In Australia, the billion-dollar cotton industry is increasingly impacted by Verticillium wilt. Internationally it has been reported that the defoliating V. dahliae Vegetative Compatibility Group (VCG) 1A causes severe damage to cotton. In Australia however, the non-defoliating VCG2A is causing more severe damage to crops in fields than the defoliating VCG1A. This review examines the current research to understand the Australian V. dahliae situation, including current classification systems, genetic analyses and management strategies. It appears that virulence cannot be defined solely by VCG in Australian Verticillium dahliae isolates causing disease in cotton, and that the industry must continually adapt their practices in order to keep the disease under control.
Das, A, Lee, DJ, Shandilya, PK, Kim, S, Kang, G, Lake, DP, Behera, B, Sukachev, D, Aharonovich, I, Lee, J-H, Park, J & Barclay, PE 2021, 'Demonstration of Hybrid High-Q Hexagonal Boron Nitride Microresonators', ACS Photonics, vol. 8, no. 10, pp. 3027-3033.
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Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a wide bandgap van der Waals material that is emerging as a powerful platform for quantum optics and nanophotonics. In this work, we demonstrate whispering gallery mode silica microresonators hybridized with thin layers of hBN that exhibit high intrinsic optical quality factor >7 × 105 and a linear absorption coefficient of 9.5 cm-1. Measurements of the effect of hBN thickness on optical Q and comparison with a theoretical model allows the linear optical absorption coefficient of the hBN films to be estimated. These high-Q devices will be useful for applications in quantum and nonlinear optics, and their hybridized geometry provides a sensitive platform for evaluating losses in hBN and other 2D materials.
Dawson, BM, Barton, PS & Wallman, JF 2021, 'Field succession studies and casework can help to identify forensically useful Diptera', Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 66, no. 6, pp. 2319-2328.
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AbstractFly development rates, and to a lesser extent succession data, can be used to provide an estimate of a minimum postmortem interval (mPMI). Yet, these data are most useful when a full account of species’ ecology, seasonality, and distribution is known. We conducted succession experiments on human cadavers over different seasons near Sydney, Australia, to document forensically useful information, including the pre‐appearance interval for carrion flies. We also compiled a detailed record of flies identified in casework collected in 156 cases distributed across New South Wales, Australia. We then compared the occurrence of fly species from both field and casework datasets to identify any consistencies or gaps to determine how useful species might be for forensic investigations. In the field experiments, we found differences in species diversity and abundance between seasons, as well as yearly variation between two winter seasons. Most fly species we recorded ovipositing showed a 2‐ or 3‐day delay between adult arrival and oviposition in summer, with a longer delay in winter. Species that were previously encountered in casework, such as Calliphora augur (Fabricius, 1775) and Calliphora ochracea Schiner, 1868, were confirmed as forensically useful, with their colonization behavior and seasonal preferences documented here. Although not encountered in casework, we confirmed Hemipyrellia fergusoni Patton, 1925 as a primary colonizer of human cadavers. Our study emphasizes the need to link field and casework data for a complete understanding of all aspects of a carrion fly's ecology to assist forensic investigators in mPMI estimations.
Dawson, BM, Wallman, JF, Evans, MJ & Barton, PS 2021, 'Is Resource Change a Useful Predictor of Carrion Insect Succession on Pigs and Humans?', Journal of Medical Entomology, vol. 58, no. 6, pp. 2228-2235.
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Abstract Carrion is a dynamic and nutrient-rich resource that attracts numerous insect species that undergo succession due to the rapid change in the carrion resource. Despite this process being well-understood, few studies have examined resource change as a driver of carrion insect succession, and instead have focused on the effects of time per se, or on coarse, qualitative measures such as decay stage. Here we report on three field succession experiments using pig carcasses and human cadavers encompassing two winters and one summer. We quantified the effects of resource change (measured as total body score, TBS), carrion type, initial carrion mass, ambient temperature, and season on insect species richness and community composition. We found that all variables had an effect on different taxonomic or trophic components of the insect community composition, with the exception of initial carrion mass which had no effect. We found significant positive effects of TBS on beetle species richness and composition, while fly species richness was not significantly affected by TBS, but was by ambient temperature. TBS had a significant positive effect on all trophic groups, while ambient temperature also had a significant positive effect on the necrophages and predator/parasitoids. Our study indicates that resource change, as indicated by TBS, is an important driver of carrion insect species turnover and succession on carrion, and that TBS can provide information about insect ecological patterns on carrion that other temporal measures of change cannot.
de Silva, RT, Abdul-Halim, MF, Pittrich, DA, Brown, HJ, Pohlschroder, M & Duggin, IG 2021, 'Improved growth and morphological plasticity of Haloferax volcanii', Microbiology, vol. 167, no. 2.
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Some microbes display pleomorphism, showing variable cell shapes in a single culture, whereas others differentiate to adapt to changed environmental conditions. The pleomorphic archaeon Haloferax volcanii commonly forms discoid-shaped (‘plate’) cells in culture, but may also be present as rods, and can develop into motile rods in soft agar, or longer filaments in certain biofilms. Here we report improvement of H. volcanii growth in both semi-defined and complex media by supplementing with eight trace element micronutrients. With these supplemented media, transient development of plate cells into uniformly shaped rods was clearly observed during the early log phase of growth; cells then reverted to plates for the late log and stationary phases. In media prepared with high-purity water and reagents, without supplemental trace elements, rods and other complex elongated morphologies (‘pleomorphic rods’) were observed at all growth stages of the culture; the highly elongated cells sometimes displayed a substantial tubule at one or less frequently both poles, as well as unusual tapered and highly curved forms. Polar tubules were observed forming by initial mid-cell narrowing or tubulation, causing a dumbbell-like shape, followed by cell division towards one end. Formation of the uniform early...
Dean, S, Razavy, S, Walsh, S, Zaslawski, C, Levett-Jones, T & Cant, R 2021, 'Building empathy awareness in undergraduate traditional Chinese Medicine students via an undercover ‘mystery shopper’ experience', Advances in Integrative Medicine, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 267-271.
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Objective: To measure empathy within the therapeutic relationship between fourth year Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) intern practitioners and their patients, who are first-year students within the same program. Methods: An observational design was used to examine the interns’ empathic communication, evaluated by first year students ‘mystery shoppers’ using the Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure (CARE). First year TCM students went undercover to experience a clinical treatment (acupuncture) by a fourth-year intern in a public Chinese Medicine clinic attached to a metropolitan university in Sydney, Australia. Results: Thirty-nine consultations were assessed by 39 undercover shopper students. The Intern practitioners’ consultation and relational empathy was rated as a mean 76.4% (38.2 points of a possible 50 (median 78%; 39); range 24–50. Significant response differences were found between female and male interns with males rated higher. The underlying elements are presented and discussed. Conclusion: The intern practitioners’ level of empathy averaged 76.4% which is consistent with empathy ratings for international studies of healthcare students. Results showed that males were rated higher for empathy than females, indicating further studies examining the specific behaviours that characterise empathy of different genders would be a useful addition to knowledge and assist teaching.
Dedousis-Wallace, A, Drysdale, SA, McAloon, J & Ollendick, TH 2021, 'Parental and Familial Predictors and Moderators of Parent Management Treatment Programs for Conduct Problems in Youth', Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 92-119.
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Despite the established efficacy of Parent Management Training (PMT) for conduct problems in youth, evidence suggests that up to half of all treated youth still display clinical levels of disruptive behavior post-treatment. The reasons for these unsatisfactory outcomes are poorly understood. The aim of the present review was to provide an updated analysis of studies from the past 15 years that examined parental and familial predictors and moderators of improvement in PMT for conduct problems. A systematic literature review of indicated prevention (children with conduct problem symptoms) and intervention (children with clinical diagnoses) studies published between 2004 and 2019 was conducted. This 15-year time period was examined since the last systematic reviews were reported in 2006 and summarized studies completed through mid-2004 (see Lundahl et al. in Clin Psychol Rev 26(1):86-104, 2006; Reyno and McGrath in J Child Psychol Psychiatry 47(1):99-111, 2006). Risk of bias indices was also computed (see Higgins et al. in Revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0), University of Bristol, Bristol, 2016) in our review. A total of 21 studies met inclusion criteria. Results indicated that a positive parent-child relationship was most strongly associated with better outcomes; however, little additional consistency in findings was evident. Future PMT research should routinely examine predictors and moderators that are both conceptually and empirically associated with treatment outcomes. This would further our understanding of factors that are associated with poorer treatment outcome and inform the development of treatment components or modes of delivery that might likely enhance evidence-based treatments and our clinical science. Protocol Registration Number: PROSPERO CRD42017058996.
DeMaere, MZ & Darling, AE 2021, 'qc3C: Reference-free quality control for Hi-C sequencing data', PLOS Computational Biology, vol. 17, no. 10, pp. e1008839-e1008839.
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Hi-C is a sample preparation method that enables high-throughput sequencing to capture genome-wide spatial interactions between DNA molecules. The technique has been successfully applied to solve challenging problems such as 3D structural analysis of chromatin, scaffolding of large genome assemblies and more recently the accurate resolution of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Despite continued refinements, however, preparing a Hi-C library remains a complex laboratory protocol. To avoid costly failures and maximise the odds of successful outcomes, diligent quality management is recommended. Current wet-lab methods provide only a crude assay of Hi-C library quality, while key post-sequencing quality indicators used have—thus far—relied upon reference-based read-mapping. When a reference is accessible, this reliance introduces a concern for quality, where an incomplete or inexact reference skews the resulting quality indicators. We propose a new, reference-free approach that infers the total fraction of read-pairs that are a product of proximity ligation. This quantification of Hi-C library quality requires only a modest amount of sequencing data and is independent of other application-specific criteria. The algorithm builds upon the observation that proximity ligation events are likely to create k-mers that would not naturally occur in the sample. Our software tool (qc3C) is to our knowledge the first to implement a reference-free Hi-C QC tool, and also provides reference-based QC, enabling Hi-C to be more easily applied to non-model organisms and environmental samples. We characterise the accuracy of the new algorithm on simulated and real datasets and compare it to reference-based methods.
Deng, K, Zhang, X, Liu, Y, Zhang, L, Wang, G, Feng, M, Oliver, BG, Wang, L, Hansbro, PM, Qin, L, Xie, M, Chen, ZH, Simpson, J, Zhang, J, Li, WM, Wang, G & Gibson, PG 2021, 'Heterogeneity of Paucigranulocytic Asthma: A Prospective Cohort Study with Hierarchical Cluster Analysis', The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 2344-2355.
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BACKGROUND: Asthma, a heterogeneous disease, can be divided into 4 inflammatory phenotypes using induced sputum cell counts-eosinophilic asthma (EA), neutrophilic asthma (NA), mixed granulocytic asthma, and paucigranulocytic asthma (PGA). Although research has focused on EA and NA, there is little known about PGA. OBJECTIVE: To study the heterogeneity of PGA and identify possible PGA clusters to guide clinical treatment. METHODS: Patients with PGA were grouped by hierarchical cluster analysis and enrolled into a prospective cohort study to validate the clusters, relative to future risk of asthma exacerbations in a real-world setting. Clusters were validated by tree analysis in a separate population. Finally, we explored PGA stability. RESULTS: Cluster analysis of 145 patients with PGA identified 3 clusters: cluster 1 (n = 110, 75.9%) was 'mild PGA,' cluster 2 (n = 20, 13.8%) was 'PGA with psychological dysfunction and rhinoconjunctivitis and other allergic diseases,' and cluster 3 (n = 15, 10.3%) was 'smoking-associated PGA.' Cluster 3 had significantly increased risk of severe exacerbation (relative risk [RR] = 6.43, P = .01), emergency visit (RR = 8.61, P = .03), and hospitalization (RR = 12.94, P < .01). Results of the cluster analysis were successfully validated in an independent PGA population classified using decision tree analysis. Although PGA can transform into or develop from other phenotypes, 70% were stable over time. CONCLUSIONS: Among 3 identified PGA clusters, cluster 3 had a higher risk of severe exacerbation. PGA heterogeneity indicates the requirement of novel targeted interventions.
Deplazes, E, Tafalla, BD, Murphy, C, White, J, Cranfield, CG & Garcia, A 2021, 'Calcium Ion Binding at the Lipid–Water Interface Alters the Ion Permeability of Phospholipid Bilayers', Langmuir, vol. 37, no. 48, pp. 14026-14033.
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Deshpande, NP, Riordan, SM, Gorman, CJ, Nielsen, S, Russell, TL, Correa-Ospina, C, Fernando, BSM, Waters, SA, Castaño-Rodríguez, N, Man, SM, Tedla, N, Wilkins, MR & Kaakoush, NO 2021, 'Multi-omics of the esophageal microenvironment identifies signatures associated with progression of Barrett’s esophagus', Genome Medicine, vol. 13, no. 1.
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AbstractBackgroundThe enrichment of Gram-negative bacteria of oral origin in the esophageal microbiome has been associated with the development of metaplasia. However, to date, no study has comprehensively assessed the relationships between the esophageal microbiome and the host.MethodsHere, we examine the esophageal microenvironment in gastro-esophageal reflux disease and metaplasia using multi-omics strategies targeting the microbiome and host transcriptome, followed by targeted culture, comparative genomics, and host-microbial interaction studies of bacterial signatures of interest.ResultsProfiling of the host transcriptome from esophageal mucosal biopsies revealed profound changes during metaplasia. Importantly, five biomarkers showed consistent longitudinal changes with disease progression from reflux disease to metaplasia. We showed for the first time that the esophageal microbiome is distinct from the salivary microbiome and the enrichment ofCampylobacterspecies as a consistent signature in disease across two independent cohorts. Shape fitting and matrix correlation identified associations between the microbiome and host transcriptome profiles, with a novel co-exclusion relationship found betweenCampylobacterand napsin B aspartic peptidase. Targeted culture ofCampylobacterspecies from the same cohort revealed a subset of isolates to have a higher capacity to survive within primary human macrophages. Comparative genomic analyses showed these isolates could be differentiated by specific genomic features, one of which was validated to be associated with intracellular fitness. Screening for theseCampylobacterstrain-specific signatures in shotgun metageno...
Devkota, HP, Gaire, BP, Hori, K, Subedi, L, Adhikari-Devkota, A, Belwal, T, Paudel, KR, Jha, NK, Singh, SK, Chellappan, DK, Hansbro, PM, Dua, K & Kurauchi, Y 2021, 'The science of matcha: Bioactive compounds, analytical techniques and biological properties', Trends in Food Science & Technology, vol. 118, pp. 735-743.
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Devkota, HP, Paudel, KR, Jha, NK, Gupta, PK, Singh, SK, Chellappan, DK, Hansbro, PM & Dua, K 2021, 'Applications of Drug-Delivery Systems Targeting Inflammasomes in Pulmonary Diseases', Nanomedicine, vol. 16, no. 27, pp. 2407-2410.
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Dhouib, R, Nasreen, M, Othman, DSMP, Ellis, D, Lee, S, Essilfie, A-T, Hansbro, PM, McEwan, AG & Kappler, U 2021, 'The DmsABC Sulfoxide Reductase Supports Virulence in Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae', Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12, pp. 1-11.
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Although molybdenum-containing enzymes are well-established as having a key role in bacterial respiration, it is increasingly recognized that some may also support bacterial virulence. Here, we show that DmsABC, a putative dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) reductase, is required for fitness of the respiratory pathogen Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) in different models of infection. Expression of the dmsABC operon increased with decreasing oxygen availability, but despite this, a Hi2019ΔdmsA strain did not show any defects in anaerobic growth on chemically defined medium (CDM), and viability was also unaffected. Although Hi2019ΔdmsA exhibited increased biofilm formation in vitro and greater resistance to hypochlorite killing compared to the isogenic wild-type strain, its survival in contact with primary human neutrophils, in infections of cultured tissue cells, or in a mouse model of lung infection was reduced compared to Hi2019WT. The tissue cell infection model revealed a two-fold decrease in intracellular survival, while in the mouse model of lung infection Hi2019ΔdmsA was strongly attenuated and below detection levels at 48 h post-inoculation. While Hi2019WT was recovered in approximately equal numbers from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue, survival of Hi2019ΔdmsA was reduced in lung tissue compared to BALF samples, indicating that ...
Di, X, Wang, D, Zhou, J, Zhang, L, Stenzel, MH, Su, QP & Jin, D 2021, 'Quantitatively Monitoring In Situ Mitochondrial Thermal Dynamics by Upconversion Nanoparticles', Nano Letters, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 1651-1658.
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Temperature dynamics reflect the physiological conditions of cells and organisms. Mitochondria regulate the temperature dynamics in living cells as they oxidize the respiratory substrates and synthesize ATP, with heat being released as a byproduct of active metabolism. Here, we report an upconversion nanoparticle-based thermometer that allows the in situ thermal dynamics monitoring of mitochondria in living cells. We demonstrate that the upconversion nanothermometers can efficiently target mitochondria, and the temperature-responsive feature is independent of probe concentration and medium conditions. The relative sensing sensitivity of 3.2% K-1 in HeLa cells allows us to measure the mitochondrial temperature difference through the stimulations of high glucose, lipid, Ca2+ shock, and the inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation. Moreover, cells display distinct response time and thermodynamic profiles under different stimulations, which highlight the potential applications of this thermometer to study in situ vital processes related to mitochondrial metabolism pathways and interactions between organelles.
Diaz, D, Vidal, X, Sunna, A & Care, A 2021, 'Bioengineering a Light-Responsive Encapsulin Nanoreactor: A Potential Tool for In Vitro Photodynamic Therapy', ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 13, no. 7, pp. 7977-7986.
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DiBattista, JD, West, KM, Hay, AC, Hughes, JM, Fowler, AM & McGrouther, MA 2021, 'Community‐based citizen science projects can support the distributional monitoring of fishes', Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, vol. 31, no. 12, pp. 3580-3593.
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AbstractEffective conservation and fisheries management requires data to capture demographic processes and range limits for each species to maximize population health and productivity. This need is constrained by limited funding and resources, particularly for countries with large land areas and coastlines as well as expansive exclusive economic zones. This imbalance means that monitoring efforts are often focused on targets of commercial and recreational fishing, which results in incomplete distributional records for non‐target, small‐bodied, and/or cryptic species.Community‐based citizen science projects offer one potential alternative for scientists and fisheries managers needing this type of information but lacking sufficient resources to gather it.This study investigated whether data sourced from an online citizen science project (iNaturalist: Australasian Fishes) can assist in the distributional monitoring of a subset of fish species. Given the regional focus of this citizen science project, distributional data in the form of occurrence records for abundant, protected, and threatened fish species as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Australia and New Zealand were explored. Data for important commercial and recreational fishery targets in New South Wales were also explored, as a case study of a large jurisdiction with extensive monitoring requirements.The occurrence records for some of these categories of fishes were well represented in the quality‐filtered citizen science data set, particularly endemic fishes whose threat status had not yet been assessed and species not currently under any form of management. Despite gaps in coverage between major urban centres, citizen science data for the best r...
Dickson, K-A, Xie, T, Evenhuis, C, Ma, Y & Marsh, DJ 2021, 'PARP Inhibitors Display Differential Efficacy in Models of BRCA Mutant High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 22, no. 16, pp. 8506-8506.
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Several poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are now in clinical use for tumours with defects in BReast CAncer genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 that result in deficient homologous recombination repair (HRR). Use of olaparib, niraparib or rucaparib for the treatment of high-grade serous ovarian cancer, including in the maintenance setting, has extended both progression free and overall survival for women with this malignancy. While different PARP inhibitors (PARPis) are mechanistically similar, differences are apparent in their chemical structures, toxicity profiles, PARP trapping abilities and polypharmacological landscapes. We have treated ovarian cancer cell line models of known BRCA status, including the paired cell lines PEO1 and PEO4, and UWB1.289 and UWB1.289+BRCA1, with five PARPis (olaparib, niraparib, rucaparib, talazoparib and veliparib) and observed differences between PARPis in both cell viability and cell survival. A cell line model of acquired resistance to veliparib showed increased resistance to the other four PARPis tested, suggesting that acquired resistance to one PARPi may not be able to be rescued by another. Lastly, as a proof of principle, HRR proficient ovarian cancer cells were sensitised to PARPis by depletion of BRCA1. In the future, guidelines will need to emerge to assist clinicians in matching specific PARPis to specific patients and tumours.
Dikshit, A, Pradhan, B & Huete, A 2021, 'An improved SPEI drought forecasting approach using the long short-term memory neural network', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 283, pp. 111979-111979.
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Droughts are slow-moving natural hazards that gradually spread over large areas and capable of extending to continental scales, leading to severe socio-economic damage. A key challenge is developing accurate drought forecast model and understanding a models' capability to examine different drought characteristics. Traditionally, forecasting techniques have used various time-series approaches and machine learning models. However, the use of deep learning methods have not been tested extensively despite its potential to improve our understanding of drought characteristics. The present study uses a deep learning approach, specifically the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) to predict a commonly used drought measure, the Standard Precipitation Evaporation Index (SPEI) at two different time scales (SPEI 1, SPEI 3). The model was compared with other common machine learning method, Random Forests, Artificial Neural Networks and applied over the New South Wales (NSW) region of Australia, using hydro-meteorological variables as predictors. The drought index and predictor data were collected from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) dataset spanning from 1901 to 2018. We analysed the LSTM forecasted results in terms of several drought characteristics (drought intensity, drought category, or spatial variation) to better understand how drought forecasting was improved. Evaluation of the drought intensity forecasting capabilities of the model were based on three different statistical metrics, Coefficient of Determination (R2), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The model achieved R2 value of more than 0.99 for both SPEI 1 and SPEI 3 cases. The variation in drought category forecasted results were studied using a multi-class Receiver Operating Characteristic based Area under Curves (ROC-AUC) approach. The analysis revealed an AUC value of 0.83 and 0.82 for SPEI 1 and SPEI 3 respectively. The spatial variation between observed a...
Ding, L, Moloudi, R & Warkiani, ME 2021, 'Bioreactor-Based Adherent Cells Harvesting from Microcarriers with 3D Printed Inertial Microfluidics', pp. 257-266.
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Ding, L, Radfar, P, Rezaei, M & Warkiani, ME 2021, 'An easy-to-operate method for single-cell isolation and retrieval using a microfluidic static droplet array', Microchimica Acta, vol. 188, no. 8, pp. 1-11.
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In-depth study of cellular heterogeneity of rare cells (e.g. circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and circulating foetal cells (CFCs)) is greatly needed in disease management but has never been completely explored due to the current technological limitations. We have developed a retrieval method for single-cell detection using a static droplet array (SDA) device through liquid segmentation with almost no sample loss. We explored the potential of using SDA for low sample input and retrieving the cells of interest using everyday laboratory equipment for downstream molecular analysis. This single-cell isolation and retrieval method is low-cost, rapid and provides a solution to the remaining challenge for single rare cell detection. The entire process takes less than 15 min, is easy to fabricate and allows for on-chip analysis of cells in nanolitre droplets and retrieval of desired droplets. To validate the applicability of our device and method, we mimicked detection of single CTCs by isolating and retrieving single cells and perform real-time PCR on their mRNA contents.
Ding, L, Zhou, J, Fu, Q, Bao, G, Liu, Y & Jin, D 2021, 'Triplet Fusion Upconversion with Oxygen Resistance in Aqueous Media', Analytical Chemistry, vol. 93, no. 10, pp. 4641-4646.
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Triplet fusion upconversion (also called triplet-triplet annihilation, TTA) arouses much attention due to its potential in the fields of biological imaging, optogenetics, and light harvesting. However, oxygen quenching remains a challenge ahead, restricting its applications in aqueous media. Previous efforts to realize aqueous TTA with oxygen resistance have been focused on core-shell structures and self-assembly, but tedious processes and complicated chemical modification are required. Here, we report a direct and efficient strategy to realize aqueous TTA by controlling the ionic equilibrium of the TTA dyad. We find that the ionized organic dyad in physiological buffers and electrolyte-based media shows a natural aerotolerance without any complicated structure engineering. In particular, the upconversion intensity of this aqueous TTA in Tris buffer under an air-saturated condition is more than twice that under the deaerated condition. We further demonstrate the TTA system for potential applications in pH and temperature sensing with reversible and sensitive performance. We anticipate this facile approach will inspire the development of practical aqueous TTA and broad applications in biological science.
Dirar, AI, Adhikari-Devkota, A, Kunwar, RM, Paudel, KR, Belwal, T, Gupta, G, Chellappan, DK, Hansbro, PM, Dua, K & Devkota, HP 2021, 'Genus Blepharis (Acanthaceae): A review of ethnomedicinally used species, and their phytochemistry and pharmacological activities', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 265, pp. 113255-113255.
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ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:Blepharis is an Afro-Asiatic genus belonging to the family Acanthaceae. It comprises 126 species that occur in arid and semi-arid habitats. Some species of Blepharis are used in traditional medicines in different countries mainly for their anti-inflammatory, would healing activities along with treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and bone fractures. AIM OF THE REVIEW:The present review aims to collate and analyze the available data and information on distribution, traditional uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Blepharis. METHODS:Scientific information of genus Blepharis was retrieved from the online bibliographic databases like MEDLINE/PubMed, SciFinder, Web of Science and Google Scholar and secondary resources including books and proceedings. RESULTS:Seven species of Blepharis were found to be reported frequently as useful in folklore in Asian and African countries. B. maderaspatensis was found to be widely used in Indian traditional medicines whereas the B. ciliaris and B. edulis were common in folklore of Egypt, Jordan, and Arabia. Active phytochemicals of Blepharis are flavonoids from B. ciliaris, alkaloids from B. sindica, phenolic acid derivatives, and phytosterols, and derivatives of hydroxamic acids from B. edulis resulted in possessing diverse biological properties such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer. CONCLUSION:Various species of Blepharis were found to be used in traditional medicine systems in African and Asian countries. Few of these species were studied for their bioactive chemical constituents however the activity guided isolation studies are not performed. Similarly, detailed pharmacological studies in animal models to explore their mechanism of action are also not reported. Future studies should focus on these aspects related to the medicinally used species of Blepharis. The detailed and comprehensive comparative analysis presented here gives valuable in...
Ditz, B, Sarma, A, Kerstjens, HAM, Liesker, JJW, Bathoorn, E, Vonk, JM, Bernal, V, Horvatovich, P, Guryev, V, Caldera, S, Langelier, C, Faiz, A, Christenson, SA & van den Berge, M 2021, 'The sputum transcriptome better predicts COPD exacerbations after the withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroids than sputum eosinophils', ERJ Open Research, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 00097-2021.
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IntroductionContinuing inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use does not benefit all patients with COPD, yet it is difficult to determine which patients may safely sustain ICS withdrawal. Although eosinophil levels can facilitate this decision, better biomarkers could improve personalised treatment decisions.MethodsWe performed transcriptional profiling of sputum to explore the molecular biology and compared the predictive value of an unbiased gene signatureversussputum eosinophils for exacerbations after ICS withdrawal in COPD patients. RNA-sequencing data of induced sputum samples from 43 COPD patients were associated with the time to exacerbation after ICS withdrawal. Expression profiles of differentially expressed genes were summarised to create gene signatures. In addition, we built a Bayesian network model to determine coregulatory networks related to the onset of COPD exacerbations after ICS withdrawal.ResultsIn multivariate analyses, we identified a gene signature (LGALS12,ALOX15,CLC,IL1RL1,CD24,EMR4P) associated with the time to first exacerbation after ICS withdrawal. The addition of this gene signature to a multiple Cox regression model explained more variance of time to exacerbations compared to a model using sputum eosinophils. The gene signature correlated with sputum eosinophil as well as macrophage cell counts. The Bayesian network model identified three coregulatory gene networks as well as sex to be related to an earlyversuslate/nonexacerbation phenotype.ConclusionWe identified a sputum gene expression s...
Doble, PA, de Vega, RG, Bishop, DP, Hare, DJ & Clases, D 2021, 'Laser Ablation–Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry Imaging in Biology', Chemical Reviews, vol. 121, no. 19, pp. 11769-11822.
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Elemental imaging gives insight into the fundamental chemical makeup of living organisms. Every cell on Earth is comprised of a complex and dynamic mixture of the chemical elements that define structure and function. Many disease states feature a disturbance in elemental homeostasis, and understanding how, and most importantly where, has driven the development of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) as the principal elemental imaging technique for biologists. This review provides an outline of ICP-MS technology, laser ablation cell designs, imaging workflows, and methods of quantification. Detailed examples of imaging applications including analyses of cancers, elemental uptake and accumulation, plant bioimaging, nanomaterials in the environment, and exposure science and neuroscience are presented and discussed. Recent incorporation of immunohistochemical workflows for imaging biomolecules, complementary and multimodal imaging techniques, and image processing methods is also reviewed.
Dominici, L, Fleck, R, Gill, RL, Pettit, TJ, Irga, PJ, Comino, E & Torpy, FR 2021, 'Analysis of lighting conditions of indoor living walls: Effects on CO2 removal', Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 44, pp. 102961-102961.
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Vertical greening systems, or living walls, are becoming increasingly used indoors for improving the sustainability of buildings, including for the mitigation of excess CO2 levels, derived from human respiration. However, light provision within indoor environments is often insufficient for the efficient functioning of many plant species, leading to low photosynthetic CO2 removal rates, and the need for supplementary light sources. In this study, we investigated the performance of supplementary lighting employed for indoor living wall systems, and whether optimised lighting conditions could lead to improved CO2 removal. In situ trials with several medium-large indoor living walls were performed to sample the lighting scenarios currently employed. We concluded that the majority of plants in existing systems were exposed to suboptimal lighting and will have a net-zero CO2 removal efficiency. Sealed chamber experiments using two common living wall plant species were conducted to explore the effect of varying lighting conditions on CO2 removal efficiency. Comparisons on optimal and “best case” in situ conditions were carried out, showing that CO2 removal efficiency was significantly correlated with both leaf and stem angles, which suggest phototropism may influence in situ CO2 removal. After a ten-day experimental period, the highest CO2 removal efficiency for both test plant species was observed at 200 μmol m−2 s−1 light flux density (~10500 lux) at 15° from the vertical growing surface. Our results indicate that most current lighting systems are inadequate for healthy plant photosynthesis and CO2 removal, and that modified lighting systems could improve this performance. The estimation of the CO2 removal ability of a 5 m2 passive living wall decreases from an ACH of 0.21 h−1, achieved in an optimal light exposure condition, to only 0.03 h−1 when plants are exposed to sub-optimal conditions. To reduce maintenance costs, technical guidelines for indoor livin...
Donnelly, S & Tran, N 2021, 'Commandeering the mammalian Ago2 miRNA network: a newly discovered mechanism of helminth immunomodulation', Trends in Parasitology, vol. 37, no. 12, pp. 1031-1033.
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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs that contribute to a broad range of biological processes through post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Helminths exploit this system to target mammalian gene expression, to modulate the host immune response. Recent discoveries have shed new light on the mechanisms involved.
DOOLEY, AH & JARRETT, K 2021, 'Non-singular -actions: an ergodic theorem over rectangles with application to the critical dimensions', Ergodic Theory and Dynamical Systems, vol. 41, no. 12, pp. 3722-3739.
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AbstractWe adapt techniques developed by Hochman to prove a non-singular ergodic theorem for $\mathbb {Z}^d$-actions where the sums are over rectangles with side lengths increasing at arbitrary rates, and in particular are not necessarily balls of a norm. This result is applied to show that the critical dimensions with respect to sequences of such rectangles are invariants of metric isomorphism. These invariants are calculated for the natural action of $\mathbb {Z}^d$ on a product of d measure spaces.
Douglas, ANJ, Morgan, AL, Rogers, EIE, Irga, PJ & Torpy, FR 2021, 'Evaluating and comparing the green wall retrofit suitability across major Australian cities', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 298, pp. 113417-113417.
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Urban densification continues to present a unique set of economic and environmental challenges. A growing shortage of green space and infrastructure is intrinsically linked with urban growth and development. With this comes the loss of ecosystem services such as urban heat island effects, reduction of air quality and biodiversity loss. Vertical greenery systems (VGS) offer an adaptive solution to space-constrained areas that are characteristic of dense urban areas, and can potentially improve the sustainability of cities. However, in order to promote VGS uptake, methods are required to enable systematic appraisal of whether existing walls can be retrofitted with VGS. Further, feasibility studies that quantify the potential for retrofit suitability of VGS across entire urban areas are lacking. This study established an evaluation tool for green wall constructability in urban areas and validated the assessment tool by determining the quantity of walls in five major Australian cities that could potentially have VGS incorporated into the existing infrastructure. Each wall was analysed using an exclusionary set of criteria that evaluated and ranked a wall based on its suitability to VGS implementation. Sydney and Brisbane recorded the greatest proportional length of walls suitable for VGS, with 33.74% and 34.12% respectively. Conversely, Perth's urban centre was the least feasible site in which to incorporate VGS, with over 97% of surveyed walls excluded, mainly due to the prevalence of <1 m high fence lines and glazed shopfronts. This study aimed to evaluate feasibility assessments of green wall retrofitability in highly urbanised areas with the intention of creating an analytical method that is accessible to all. This method, coupled with the promising number of feasible walls found in this study, emphasises the need for more government policy and incentives encouraging green wall uptake and could play a pivotal role in the expansion of green infrastructur...
Douna, V, Barraza, V, Grings, F, Huete, A, Restrepo-Coupe, N & Beringer, J 2021, 'Towards a remote sensing data based evapotranspiration estimation in Northern Australia using a simple random forest approach', Journal of Arid Environments, vol. 191, pp. 104513-104513.
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In this work we have developed a random forest regressor to predict daily evapotranspiration in three eddy-covariance sites in Northern Australia from in-situ meteorological data and fluxes, and satellite leaf area index and land surface temperature data. The variable analysis for the random forest regressor suggests that leaf area index is the most important one at this temporal scale. A development sample corresponding to the period 2010–2013 was used, while the year 2014 has been separated for testing. Using this approach, we have obtained satisfactory performances in the three sites, with RMSE errors around 1 mm/day (and relative RMSEs ~0.3) in comparison to the measured values. With the final aim of testing the predictive capability of a model that uses remote sensing data as input, regressors that predict evapotranspiration exclusively from leaf area index and land surface temperature, have been trained resulting in reasonable performances. The RMSEs over the test set are ~1.1−1.2 mm/day. In all cases, the errors are comparable to those obtained in previous works that use similar locations and different methods. When compared to the measured values, the random forest predictions of evapotranspiration are more accurate than the global MODIS ET 8-day 1 km product, which was used as benchmark for the performance evaluation of our models, in the three selected locations.
Douraghi, M, Aris, P, To, J, Myers, GSA & Hamidian, M 2021, 'Two carbapenem-resistant ST1:ST231:KL1:OCL1Acinetobacter baumanniistrains recovered in Tehran, Iran, carry AbaR31 in the chromosome and AbaR4 and TnaphA6in a RepAci6 plasmid', JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance, vol. 3, no. 3, p. dlab112.
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AbstractObjectivesTo analyse the context of genes conferring antibiotic resistance in two carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates recovered in Tehran, Iran.MethodsThe antibiotic resistance phenotype for 28 antibiotics was determined using disc diffusion. The whole genome sequences of ABH008 and ABS200 were determined using the Illumina HiSeq X Ten platform. Resistance genes were identified using ResFinder and multilocus sequence types were determined using the Oxford and Institut Pasteur schemes.ResultsIsolates ABH008 and ABS200, recovered in 2012 and 2013, respectively, in two different Tehran hospitals, belong to the common global clone 1 lineage, ST1IP and ST231OX. They are resistant to sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, gentamicin, amikacin, third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems. Despite being isolated in different hospitals, phylogenetic analysis indicated they are closely related. Consistent with this, both isolates carry catA1, sul1, aacC1 and aadA1 in a novel variant of the AbaR3-type resistance island, named AbaR31. Both isolates are resistant to amikacin and carbapenems owing to aphA6 and oxa23, respectively. The oxa23 gene is located in the AbaR4 resistance island, and aphA6 in TnaphA6, and both mobile elements are in an ∼90 kbp plasmid encoding the putative RepAci6 replication initiation protein. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins is due to the acquisition by homologous recombination of a 5 kb DNA segment that contains ISAba1-ampC from a ST623 strain.ConclusionsThe resistance gene complements of ABH008 and ABS200 were found in AbaR31 and a plasmid that encodes RepAci6. The close genetic relationship of ABH008 and ABS200, despite each being recovered from dif...
Dowla, R, Murnion, B, Hung, C, Currell, K, Kendig, M, Freeston, J & Rooney, K 2021, 'Exercise Capacity and Acute Effect of Exercise on Affect in a Substance Use Disorder Population', Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 142-149.
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ABSTRACT Background It is known that exercise is beneficial to people with substance use disorder, however little evidence exists regarding their exercise capacity. This pilot study investigates the exercise capacity of patients with substance use disorder and effects of an acute bout of exercise on affect. Methods Twenty-nine participants admitted to a withdrawal management facility were recruited to complete a health and exercise assessment (18 females, 11 males; 41 ± 11 years old). Mood was measured before and after exercise assessments using the subjective experience to exercise scale. Data was grouped by sex, and descriptive analyses were performed against age-matched normative data. Within group, before and after subjective experience to exercise scale measures were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA with sex as a between subject factor. Results Participants ranged from having 2 to 6 modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Participants performed below average compared to age-matched and sex-matched normative data for the 6-minute walk test (females: 539 ± 54 m, males: 606 ± 89 m); and push-up test (females: 22% good, males: 36% good). Of the 29 participants, 29% failed to achieve the average range for sex-matched norms in the sit-to-stand test. However, all participants achieved above average for curl-ups, and 72% achieved an average or above score in the step-up test. Exercise significantly increased wellbeing (P < 0.001, effect size = 1.12) and decreased psychological distress (P = 0.045, effect size = 1.03) and fatigue (P < 0.001, effect size = 1.32). ...
Dua, K, Löbenberg, R, Luzo, ÂCM, Shukla, S & Satija, S 2021, 'Preface', Targeting Cellular Signalling Pathways in Lung Diseases, pp. v-vi.
Dutt, S, Apel, P, Lizunov, N, Notthoff, C, Wen, Q, Trautmann, C, Mota-Santiago, P, Kirby, N & Kluth, P 2021, 'Shape of nanopores in track-etched polycarbonate membranes', Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 638, pp. 119681-119681.
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Eid, B, Islam, MR, Shah, R, Nahid, A-A, Kouzani, AZ & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'Enhanced Profitability of Photovoltaic Plants By Utilizing Cryptocurrency-Based Mining Load', IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1-5.
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Elder, M & Goh, YK 2021, '$k$-Pop Stack Sortable Permutations and $2$-Avoidance', The Electronic Journal of Combinatorics, vol. 28, no. 1.
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We consider permutations sortable by $k$ passes through a deterministic pop stack. We show that for any $k\in\mathbb{N}$ the set is characterised by finitely many patterns, answering a question of Claesson and Guðmundsson. Moreover, these sets of patterns are algorithmically constructible.
Our characterisation demands a more precise definition than in previous literature of what it means for a permutation to avoid a set of barred and unbarred patterns. We propose a new notion called $2$-avoidance.
Ellis, J, Barratt, J, Kaufer, A, Pearn, L, Armstrong, B, Johnson, M, Park, Y, Downey, L, Cao, M, Neill, L, Lee, R, Ellis, B, Tyler, K, Lun, Z-R & Stark, D 2021, 'A new subspecies of Trypanosoma cyclops found in the Australian terrestrial leech Chtonobdella bilineata', Parasitology, vol. 148, no. 10, pp. 1125-1136.
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Abstract
Ellis, J, Ellis, B, Tyler, K & Reichel, MP 2021, 'Recent trends in the use of social media in parasitology and the application of alternative metrics', Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases, vol. 1, pp. 100013-100013.
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Enosi Tuipulotu, D, Mathur, A, Ngo, C & Man, SM 2021, 'Bacillus cereus: Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, and Host–Pathogen Interactions', Trends in Microbiology, vol. 29, no. 5, pp. 458-471.
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Estherby, CA, Arnold, MD, Tai, MC & Gentle, AR 2021, 'Dynamic control of polarized thermal emission from VO2 nanofins', Journal of Photonics for Energy, vol. 11, no. 04.
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Facey, JA, Rogers, TA, Apte, SC & Mitrovic, SM 2021, 'Micronutrients as growth limiting factors in cyanobacterial blooms; a survey of freshwaters in South East Australia', Aquatic Sciences, vol. 83, no. 2.
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Fahim, S, Sarker, S, Das, S, Islam, MR, Kouzani, A & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'A Probabilistic Generative Model for Fault Analysis of a Transmission Line With SFCL', IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1-5.
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The fault analysis of a transmission line (TL) are the key factors for the rapid restoration of the power network. Due to the recent expansion of the power system as well as the increased generation capacity, the magnitude of the fault current increases beyond the interruption capability of the existing circuit breaker. In this turn, the superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs) come in handy which limits the fault current and facilitates the tripping operation without upgrading the breaker rating. Besides, the SFCLs affect the three-phase signals which, in turn, negatively affect the transmission line protection scheme. This paper proposes an unsupervised framework for fault detection and classification of a transmission line with SFCLs. The proposed scheme receives 1/2 cycle post-fault three-phase signals and hierarchically extracts the fault information for fault analyzing purposes. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is justified in terms of overall and individual accuracy. Further assessment of the model's performance against noise and measurement error is also carried out in order to confirm the high reliability of the proposed model.
Faiz, A, Harkness, LM, Tjin, G, Bernal, V, Horvatovich, P, James, A, Elliot, JG, Burgess, JK & Ashton, AW 2021, 'Angiogenic regulatory influence of extracellular matrix deposited by resting state asthmatic and non‐asthmatic airway smooth muscle cells is similar', Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, vol. 25, no. 13, pp. 6438-6447.
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AbstractThe extracellular matrix (ECM) is the tissue microenvironment that regulates the characteristics of stromal and systemic cells to control processes such as inflammation and angiogenesis. Despite ongoing anti‐inflammatory treatment, low levels of inflammation exist in the airways in asthma, which alters ECM deposition by airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. The altered ECM causes aberrant behaviour of cells, such as endothelial cells, in the airway tissue. We therefore sought to characterize the composition and angiogenic potential of the ECM deposited by asthmatic and non‐asthmatic ASM. After 72 hours under non‐stimulated conditions, the ECM deposited by primary human asthmatic ASM cells was equal in total protein, collagen I, III and fibronectin content to that from non‐asthmatic ASM cells. Further, the matrices of non‐asthmatic and asthmatic ASM cells were equivalent in regulating the growth, activity, attachment and migration of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Under basal conditions, asthmatic and non‐asthmatic ASM cells intrinsically deposit an ECM of equivalent composition and angiogenic potential. Previous findings indicate that dysregulation of the airway ECM is driven even by low levels of inflammatory provocation. This study suggests the need for more effective anti‐inflammatory therapies in asthma to maintain the airway ECM and regulate ECM‐mediated aberrant angiogenesis.
Falkenberg, LJ, Scanes, E, Ducker, J & Ross, PM 2021, 'Biotic habitats as refugia under ocean acidification', Conservation Physiology, vol. 9, no. 1, p. coab077.
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Abstract Habitat-forming organisms have an important role in ameliorating stressful conditions and may be of particular relevance under a changing climate. Increasing CO2 emissions are driving a range of environmental changes, and one of the key concerns is the rapid acceleration of ocean acidification and associated reduction in pH. Such changes in seawater chemistry are anticipated to have direct negative effects on calcifying organisms, which could, in turn, have negative ecological, economic and human health impacts. However, these calcifying organisms do not exist in isolation, but rather are part of complex ecosystems. Here, we use a qualitative narrative synthesis framework to explore (i) how habitat-forming organisms can act to restrict environmental stress, both now and in the future; (ii) the ways their capacity to do so is modified by local context; and (iii) their potential to buffer the effects of future change through physiological processes and how this can be influenced by management adopted. Specifically, we highlight examples that consider the ability of macroalgae and seagrasses to alter water carbonate chemistry, influence resident organisms under current conditions and their capacity to do so under future conditions, while also recognizing the potential role of other habitats such as adjacent mangroves and saltmarshes. Importantly, we note that the outcome of interactions between these functional groups will be context dependent, influenced by the local abiotic and biotic characteristics. This dependence provides local managers with opportunities to create conditions that enhance the likelihood of successful amelioration. Where individuals and populations are managed effectively, habitat formers could provide local refugia for resident organisms of ecological and economic importance under an acidifying ocean.
Falster, D, Gallagher, R, Wenk, EH, Wright, IJ, Indiarto, D, Andrew, SC, Baxter, C, Lawson, J, Allen, S, Fuchs, A, Monro, A, Kar, F, Adams, MA, Ahrens, CW, Alfonzetti, M, Angevin, T, Apgaua, DMG, Arndt, S, Atkin, OK, Atkinson, J, Auld, T, Baker, A, von Balthazar, M, Bean, A, Blackman, CJ, Bloomfield, K, Bowman, DMJS, Bragg, J, Brodribb, TJ, Buckton, G, Burrows, G, Caldwell, E, Camac, J, Carpenter, R, Catford, JA, Cawthray, GR, Cernusak, LA, Chandler, G, Chapman, AR, Cheal, D, Cheesman, AW, Chen, S-C, Choat, B, Clinton, B, Clode, PL, Coleman, H, Cornwell, WK, Cosgrove, M, Crisp, M, Cross, E, Crous, KY, Cunningham, S, Curran, T, Curtis, E, Daws, MI, DeGabriel, JL, Denton, MD, Dong, N, Du, P, Duan, H, Duncan, DH, Duncan, RP, Duretto, M, Dwyer, JM, Edwards, C, Esperon-Rodriguez, M, Evans, JR, Everingham, SE, Farrell, C, Firn, J, Fonseca, CR, French, BJ, Frood, D, Funk, JL, Geange, SR, Ghannoum, O, Gleason, SM, Gosper, CR, Gray, E, Groom, PK, Grootemaat, S, Gross, C, Guerin, G, Guja, L, Hahs, AK, Harrison, MT, Hayes, PE, Henery, M, Hochuli, D, Howell, J, Huang, G, Hughes, L, Huisman, J, Ilic, J, Jagdish, A, Jin, D, Jordan, G, Jurado, E, Kanowski, J, Kasel, S, Kellermann, J, Kenny, B, Kohout, M, Kooyman, RM, Kotowska, MM, Lai, HR, Laliberté, E, Lambers, H, Lamont, BB, Lanfear, R, van Langevelde, F, Laughlin, DC, Laugier-Kitchener, B-A, Laurance, S, Lehmann, CER, Leigh, A, Leishman, MR, Lenz, T, Lepschi, B, Lewis, JD, Lim, F, Liu, U, Lord, J, Lusk, CH, Macinnis-Ng, C, McPherson, H, Magallón, S, Manea, A, López-Martinez, A, Mayfield, M, McCarthy, JK, Meers, T, van der Merwe, M, Metcalfe, DJ, Milberg, P, Mokany, K, Moles, AT, Moore, BD, Moore, N, Morgan, JW, Morris, W, Muir, A, Munroe, S, Nicholson, Á, Nicolle, D, Nicotra, AB, Niinemets, Ü, North, T, O’Reilly-Nugent, A, O’Sullivan, OS, Oberle, B, Onoda, Y, Ooi, MKJ, Osborne, CP, Paczkowska, G, Pekin, B, Guilherme Pereira, C, Pickering, C, Pickup, M, Pollock, LJ, Poot, P, Powell, JR, Power, SA, Prentice, IC, Prior, L, Prober, SM, Read, J, Reynolds, V, Richards, AE, Richardson, B, Roderick, ML, Rosell, JA, Rossetto, M, Rye, B, Rymer, PD, Sams, MA, Sanson, G, Sauquet, H, Schmidt, S, Schönenberger, J, Schulze, E-D, Sendall, K, Sinclair, S, Smith, B, Smith, R, Soper, F, Sparrow, B, Standish, RJ, Staples, TL, Stephens, R, Szota, C, Taseski, G, Tasker, E, Thomas, F, Tissue, DT, Tjoelker, MG & et al. 2021, 'AusTraits, a curated plant trait database for the Australian flora', Scientific Data, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 254.
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AbstractWe introduce the AusTraits database - a compilation of values of plant traits for taxa in the Australian flora (hereafter AusTraits). AusTraits synthesises data on 448 traits across 28,640 taxa from field campaigns, published literature, taxonomic monographs, and individual taxon descriptions. Traits vary in scope from physiological measures of performance (e.g. photosynthetic gas exchange, water-use efficiency) to morphological attributes (e.g. leaf area, seed mass, plant height) which link to aspects of ecological variation. AusTraits contains curated and harmonised individual- and species-level measurements coupled to, where available, contextual information on site properties and experimental conditions. This article provides information on version 3.0.2 of AusTraits which contains data for 997,808 trait-by-taxon combinations. We envision AusTraits as an ongoing collaborative initiative for easily archiving and sharing trait data, which also provides a template for other national or regional initiatives globally to fill persistent gaps in trait knowledge.
Fan, J, Liang, L, Gu, Y & Liu, X 2021, '(INVITED) Opposing effects of energy migration and cross-relaxation on surface sensitivity of lanthanide-doped nanocrystals', Optical Materials: X, vol. 12, pp. 100104-100104.
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Fan, L, Guo, Z, Zhao, D, Zhao, C, Lu, X, Chen, A, Yin, X, Zhang, Y, Sun, B & Zhang, N 2021, 'Stable and Dendrite‐Free Lithium Metal Anodes Enabled by Ionic/Electronic Li2S/Mo Interlayer', Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research, vol. 2, no. 11, pp. 1-8.
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The wide applications of high‐capacity lithium metal anodes for lithium metal batteries are restricted by the uncontrollable lithium dendrite growth caused by the uneven lithium deposition and the infinite volume change of lithium anodes during the plating/stripping process. Herein, the composite ionic/electronic interlayer of Li2S/Mo is deposited on the surface of stainless steel mesh (SSM) by in situ electrochemical conversion reaction from MoS2 nanosheet arrays. The Li2S/Mo interlayer with high ionic conductivity can regulate uniform lithium‐ion flux and promote homogeneous lithium deposition without dendrite growth. The half cells with Li2S/Mo‐modified SSM current collector show stable cycling performance of more than 400 cycles at 1 and 1 mAh cm−2, with the average Coulombic efficiency higher than 96%. By coupling with LiFePO4 cathodes, the assembled full cells demonstrate improved cycling performance. This work provides a new idea for using metal sulfides as a lithiophilic interlayer to facilitate dendrite‐free lithium deposition.
Fan, L, Sun, B, Yan, K, Xiong, P, Guo, X, Guo, Z, Zhang, N, Feng, Y, Sun, K & Wang, G 2021, 'A Dual‐Protective Artificial Interface for Stable Lithium Metal Anodes', Advanced Energy Materials, vol. 11, no. 48, pp. 1-10.
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AbstractConstructing an advanced artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on lithium metal anodes is a promising strategy to protect Li anodes and enable them to maintain long‐term cycling stability and safety. Herein, the development of a dual‐protective interface as an artificial SEI with high ionic conductivity and appropriate mechanical strength to protect Li anodes from parasitic reactions and dendrite formation is reported. The dual‐protective interface consists of a Prussian blue (PB) inner layer and a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) outer layer. The compact and uniform PB layer with abundant Li‐ion diffusion channels facilitates fast and uniform Li‐ion flux to or from the surface of the Li metal anode, guiding uniform Li deposition without dendrite formation. In addition, the flexible rGO layer on the top of the PB layer enhances the structural integrity of the PB film against severe volume change during repeated Li plating and stripping. As a result, the Li metal anodes with the dual‐protective interfaces show significantly improved cycling stability with high Coulombic efficiency and dendrite‐free morphology. This work provides a new strategy to enhance the stability and safety of Li metal anodes for lithium metal batteries.
Fang, G, Lu, H, Aboulkheyr Es, H, Wang, D, Liu, Y, Warkiani, ME, Lin, G & Jin, D 2021, 'Unidirectional intercellular communication on a microfluidic chip', Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol. 175, pp. 112833-112833.
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Cell co-culture serves as a standard method to study intercellular communication. However, random diffusion of signal molecules during co-culture may arouse crosstalk among different types of cells and hide directive signal-target responses. Here, a microfluidic chip is proposed to study unidirectional intercellular communication by spatially controlling the flow of the signal molecules. The chip contains two separated chambers connected by two channels where the culture media flows oppositely. A zigzag signal-blocking channel is designed to study the function of a specific signal. The chip is applied to study the unidirectional communication between tumor cells and stromal cells. It shows that the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (a marker of cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)) of both MRC-5 fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells can be up-regulated only by the secreta from invasive MDA-MB-231 cells, but not from non-invasive MCF-7 cells. The proliferation of the tumor cells can be improved by the stromal cells. Moreover, transforming growth factor beta 1 is found as one of the main factors for CAF transformation via the signal-blocking function. The chip achieves unidirectional cell communication along X-axis, signal concentration gradient along Y-axis and 3D cell culture along Z-axis, which provides a useful tool for cell communication studies.
Fang, G, Lu, H, Rodriguez de la Fuente, L, Law, AMK, Lin, G, Jin, D & Gallego‐Ortega, D 2021, 'Mammary Tumor Organoid Culture in Non‐Adhesive Alginate for Luminal Mechanics and High‐Throughput Drug Screening', Advanced Science, vol. 8, no. 21, pp. 1-13.
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AbstractMammary tumor organoids have become a promising in vitro model for drug screening and personalized medicine. However, the dependency on the basement membrane extract (BME) as the growth matrices limits their comprehensive application. In this work, mouse mammary tumor organoids are established by encapsulating tumor pieces in non‐adhesive alginate. High‐throughput generation of organoids in alginate microbeads is achieved utilizing microfluidic droplet technology. Tumor pieces within the alginate microbeads developed both luminal‐ and solid‐like structures and displayed a high similarity to the original fresh tumor in cellular phenotypes and lineages. The mechanical forces of the luminal organoids in the alginate capsules are analyzed with the theory of the thick‐wall pressure vessel (TWPV) model. The luminal pressure of the organoids increase with the lumen growth and can reach 2 kPa after two weeks’ culture. Finally, the mammary tumor organoids are treated with doxorubicin and latrunculin A to evaluate their application as a drug screening platform. It is found that the drug response is related to the luminal size and pressures of organoids. This high‐throughput culture for mammary tumor organoids may present a promising tool for preclinical drug target validation and personalized medicine.
Fang, L, Ruan, M, Yang, S, Qu, X, Chen, H, Zhao, J & Cheng, J 2021, 'Prednisone combined with letrozole reduced risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in women undergoing long-term gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment', Annals of Palliative Medicine, vol. 10, no. 8, pp. 8837-8847.
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Fatima Shad, K, Soubra, W & Cordato, DJ 2021, 'The role of thymoquinone, a major constituent of Nigella sativa, in the treatment of inflammatory and infectious diseases', Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, vol. 48, no. 11, pp. 1445-1453.
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AbstractNigella sativa (N. sativa) is an annual flowering plant that has been used as a traditional remedy for many centuries. The seed possesses a large variety of compounds with thymoquinone (TQ) considered its major but not sole bioactive constituent. Supercritical fluid extraction, geographical location, and oxidative status of N. sativa produces the highest yield of essential oil content including TQ. Thymoquinone is lipophilic, heat and light sensitive with low oral bioavailability and rapid elimination that have significantly inhibited its pharmacological development. Novel developments in nanoparticulate‐based oral administration, nasal spray and transdermal delivery may allow the clinical development of N. sativa and TQ as therapeutic agents. Animal and human studies indicate a potential role of N. sativa seed oil and TQ for a diverse range of disease processes including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, arthritis, asthma, bacterial and viral infections, neurological and dermatological disorders, as it belongs to the group of pan‐assay interference compounds. This review outlines the pharmacological properties of N. sativa and TQ and their potential wide application for a large variety of human diseases. The paper will focus on recent studies of the anti‐inflammatory and antiviral properties that make N. sativa and TQ promising therapeutic agents targeting contemporary inflammatory and infectious diseases including Covid 19.
Fenn, S, Dubern, J-F, Cigana, C, De Simone, M, Lazenby, J, Juhas, M, Schwager, S, Bianconi, I, Döring, G, Elmsley, J, Eberl, L, Williams, P, Bragonzi, A & Cámara, M 2021, 'NirA Is an Alternative Nitrite Reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa with Potential as an Antivirulence Target', mBio, vol. 12, no. 2.
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The emergence of widespread antimicrobial resistance has led to the need for development of novel therapeutic interventions. Antivirulence strategies are an attractive alternative to classic antimicrobial therapy; however, they require identification of new specific targets which can be exploited in drug discovery programs.
Fernandez, E, Ostrowski, M, Siboni, N, Seymour, JR & Petrou, K 2021, 'Uptake of Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) by Natural Microbial Communities of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia', Microorganisms, vol. 9, no. 9, pp. 1891-1891.
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Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is a key organic sulfur compound that is produced by many phytoplankton and macrophytes and is ubiquitous in marine environments. Following its release into the water column, DMSP is primarily metabolised by heterotrophic bacterioplankton, but recent evidence indicates that non-DMSP producing phytoplankton can also assimilate DMSP from the surrounding environment. In this study, we examined the uptake of DMSP by communities of bacteria and phytoplankton within the waters of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. We incubated natural GBR seawater with DMSP and quantified the uptake of DMSP by different fractions of the microbial community (>8 µm, 3–8 µm, <3 µm). We also evaluated how microbial community composition and the abundances of DMSP degrading genes are influenced by elevated dissolved DMSP levels. Our results showed uptake and accumulation of DMSP in all size fractions of the microbial community, with the largest fraction (>8 µm) forming the dominant sink, increasing in particulate DMSP by 44–115% upon DMSP enrichment. Longer-term incubations showed however, that DMSP retention was short lived (<24 h) and microbial responses to DMSP enrichment differed depending on the community carbon and sulfur demand. The response of the microbial communities from inside the reef indicated a preference towards cleaving DMSP into the climatically active aerosol dimethyl sulfide (DMS), whereas communities from the outer reef were sulfur and carbon limited, resulting in more DMSP being utilised by the cells. Our results show that DMSP uptake is shared across members of the microbial community, highlighting larger phytoplankton taxa as potentially relevant DMSP reservoirs and provide new information on sulfur cycling as a function of community metabolism in deeper, oligotrophic GBR waters.
Finkelstein, DI, Billings, JL, Adlard, PA, Ayton, S, Sedjahtera, A, Masters, CL, Wilkins, S, Shackleford, DM, Charman, SA, Bal, W, Zawisza, IA, Kurowska, E, Gundlach, AL, Ma, S, Bush, AI, Hare, DJ, Doble, PA, Crawford, S, Gautier, ECL, Parsons, J, Huggins, P, Barnham, KJ & Cherny, RA 2021, 'Correction to: The novel compound PBT434 prevents iron mediated neurodegeneration and alpha-synuclein toxicity in multiple models of Parkinson’s disease', Acta Neuropathologica Communications, vol. 9, no. 1.
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Following publication of the original article [1], the author identified an error in Fig. 4E. The data and statistics were correct, but the synaptophysin blot was incorrect. The incorrect (Fig. 1) and correct figure (Fig. 2) are shown in this correction article. (Figure presented.).
Fitzpatrick, KJ, Rohlf, HJ, Sutherland, TD, Koo, KM, Beckett, S, Okelo, WO, Keyburn, AL, Morgan, BS, Drigo, B, Trau, M, Donner, E, Djordjevic, SP & De Barro, PJ 2021, 'Progressing Antimicrobial Resistance Sensing Technologies across Human, Animal, and Environmental Health Domains', ACS Sensors, vol. 6, no. 12, pp. 4283-4296.
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The spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a rapidly growing threat to humankind on both regional and global scales. As countries worldwide prepare to embrace a One Health approach to AMR management, which is one that recognizes the interconnectivity between human, animal, and environmental health, increasing attention is being paid to identifying and monitoring key contributing factors and critical control points. Presently, AMR sensing technologies have significantly progressed phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and genotypic antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) detection in human healthcare. For effective AMR management, an evolution of innovative sensing technologies is needed for tackling the unique challenges of interconnected AMR across various and different health domains. This review comprehensively discusses the modern state-of-play for innovative commercial and emerging AMR sensing technologies, including sequencing, microfluidic, and miniaturized point-of-need platforms. With a unique view toward the future of One Health, we also provide our perspectives and outlook on the constantly changing landscape of AMR sensing technologies beyond the human health domain.
Flórido, M, Chiu, J & Hogg, PJ 2021, 'Influenza A Virus Hemagglutinin Is Produced in Different Disulfide-Bonded States', Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, vol. 35, no. 13, pp. 1081-1092.
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Fowler, AM, Hall, KC, Liggins, GW & Chick, RC 2021, 'Prioritising fished stocks for monitoring and assessment: A decision analysis approach for diverse fisheries of limited commercial value', Ocean & Coastal Management, vol. 199, pp. 105404-105404.
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Fröch, JE, Spencer, L, Kianinia, M, Totonjian, D, Nguyen, M, Dyakonov, V, Toth, M, Kim, S & Aharonovich, I 2021, 'Coupling spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride to monolithic bullseye cavities', Nano Letters: a journal dedicated to nanoscience and nanotechnology, vol. 21, no. 15, pp. 6549-6555.
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Color centers in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) are becoming an increasinglyimportant building block for quantum photonic applications. Herein, wedemonstrate the efficient coupling of recently discovered spin defects in hBNto purposely designed bullseye cavities. We show that the all monolithic hBNcavity system exhibits an order of magnitude enhancement in the emission of thecoupled boron vacancy spin defects. In addition, by comparative finitedifference time domain modelling, we shed light on the emission dipoleorientation, which has not been experimentally demonstrated at this point.Beyond that, the coupled spin system exhibits an enhanced contrast in opticallydetected magnetic resonance readout and improved signal to noise ratio. Thus,our experimental results supported by simulations, constitute a first steptowards integration of hBN spin defects with photonic resonators for a scalablespin photon interface.
Fronzi, M, Isayev, O, Winkler, DA, Shapter, JG, Ellis, AV, Sherrell, PC, Shepelin, NA, Corletto, A & Ford, MJ 2021, 'Active Learning in Bayesian Neural Networks for Bandgap Predictions of Novel Van der Waals Heterostructures', Advanced Intelligent Systems, vol. 3, no. 11, pp. 2100080-2100080.
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The bandgap is one of the most fundamental properties of condensed matter. However, an accurate calculation of its value, which could potentially allow experimentalists to identify materials suitable for device applications, is very computationally expensive. Here, active machine learning algorithms are used to leverage a limited number of accurate density functional theory calculations to robustly predict the bandgap of a very large number of novel 2D heterostructures. Using this approach, a database of ≈2.2 million bandgap values for various novel 2D van der Waals heterostructures is produced.
Fujise, L, Suggett, DJ, Stat, M, Kahlke, T, Bunce, M, Gardner, SG, Goyen, S, Woodcock, S, Ralph, PJ, Seymour, JR, Siboni, N & Nitschke, MR 2021, 'Unlocking the phylogenetic diversity, primary habitats, and abundances of free‐living Symbiodiniaceae on a coral reef', Molecular Ecology, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 343-360.
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AbstractDinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae form mutualistic symbioses with marine invertebrates such as reef‐building corals, but also inhabit reef environments as free‐living cells. Most coral species acquire Symbiodiniaceae horizontally from the surrounding environment during the larval and/or recruitment phase, however the phylogenetic diversity and ecology of free‐living Symbiodiniaceae on coral reefs is largely unknown. We coupled environmental DNA sequencing and genus‐specific qPCR to resolve the community structure and cell abundances of free‐living Symbiodiniaceae in the water column, sediment, and macroalgae and compared these to coral symbionts. Sampling was conducted at two time points, one of which coincided with the annual coral spawning event when recombination between hosts and free‐living Symbiodiniaceae is assumed to be critical. Amplicons of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region were assigned to 12 of the 15 Symbiodiniaceae genera or genera‐equivalent lineages. Community compositions were separated by habitat, with water samples containing a high proportion of sequences corresponding to coral symbionts of the genus Cladocopium, potentially as a result of cell expulsion from in hospite populations. Sediment‐associated Symbiodiniaceae communities were distinct, potentially due to the presence of exclusively free‐living species. Intriguingly, macroalgal surfaces displayed the highest cell abundances of Symbiodiniaceae, suggesting a key role for macroalgae in ensuring the ecological success of corals through maintenance of a continuum between environmental and symbiotic populations of Symbiodiniaceae.
Gaiani, G, Toldrà, A, Andree, KB, Rey, M, Diogène, J, Alcaraz, C, O’Sullivan, CK & Campàs, M 2021, 'Detection of Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa single cells using recombinase polymerase amplification combined with a sandwich hybridization assay', Journal of Applied Phycology, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 2273-2282.
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Gaio, D, DeMaere, MZ, Anantanawat, K, Chapman, TA, Djordjevic, SP & Darling, AE 2021, 'Post-weaning shifts in microbiome composition and metabolism revealed by over 25 000 pig gut metagenome-assembled genomes', Microbial Genomics, vol. 7, no. 8.
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Using a previously described metagenomics dataset of 27 billion reads, we reconstructed over 50 000 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of organisms resident in the porcine gut, 46.5 % of which were classified as >70 % complete with a <10 % contamination rate, and 24.4 % were nearly complete genomes. Here, we describe the generation and analysis of those MAGs using time-series samples. The gut microbial communities of piglets appear to follow a highly structured developmental programme in the weeks following weaning, and this development is robust to treatments including an intramuscular antibiotic treatment and two probiotic treatments. The high resolution we obtained allowed us to identify specific taxonomic ‘signatures’ that characterize the gut microbial development immediately after weaning. Additionally, we characterized the carbohydrate repertoire of the organisms resident in the porcine gut. We tracked the abundance shifts of 294 carbohydrate active enzymes, and identified the species and higher-level taxonomic groups carrying each of these enzymes in their MAGs. This knowledge can contribute to the design of probiotics and prebiotic interventions as a means to modify the piglet gut microbiome.
Gaio, D, DeMaere, MZ, Anantanawat, K, Eamens, GJ, Liu, M, Zingali, T, Falconer, L, Chapman, TA, Djordjevic, SP & Darling, AE 2021, 'A large-scale metagenomic survey dataset of the post-weaning piglet gut lumen', GigaScience, vol. 10, no. 6.
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Abstract Background Early weaning and intensive farming practices predispose piglets to the development of infectious and often lethal diseases, against which antibiotics are used. Besides contributing to the build-up of antimicrobial resistance, antibiotics are known to modulate the gut microbial composition. As an alternative to antibiotic treatment, studies have previously investigated the potential of probiotics for the prevention of postweaning diarrhea. In order to describe the post-weaning gut microbiota, and to study the effects of two probiotics formulations and of intramuscular antibiotic treatment on the gut microbiota, we sampled and processed over 800 faecal time-series samples from 126 piglets and 42 sows. Results Here we report on the largest shotgun metagenomic dataset of the pig gut lumen microbiome to date, consisting of >8 Tbp of shotgun metagenomic sequencing data. The animal trial, the workflow from sample collection to sample processing, and the preparation of libraries for sequencing, are described in detail. We provide a preliminary analysis of the dataset, centered on a taxonomic profiling of the samples, and a 16S-based beta diversity analysis of the mothers and the piglets in the first 5 weeks after weaning. Conclusions This study was conducted to generate a publicly available databank of the faecal metagenome of weaner piglets aged between 3 and 9 weeks old, treated with different probiotic formulations and intramuscular antibiotic treatment. Besides investigating the effects of the probiotic and intramuscular antibiotic treatment, the dataset ...
Gale, A, Fröch, JE, Kianinia, M, Bishop, J, Aharonovich, I & Toth, M 2021, 'Recoil implantation using gas-phase precursor molecules', Nanoscale, vol. 13, no. 20, pp. 9322-9327.
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Schematic illustration of the recoil implantation process by using gas-phase precursor molecules.
Gao, C, Garren, M, Penn, K, Fernandez, VI, Seymour, JR, Thompson, JR, Raina, J-B & Stocker, R 2021, 'Coral mucus rapidly induces chemokinesis and genome-wide transcriptional shifts toward early pathogenesis in a bacterial coral pathogen', The ISME Journal, vol. 15, no. 12, pp. 3668-3682.
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Abstract Elevated seawater temperatures have contributed to the rise of coral disease mediated by bacterial pathogens, such as the globally distributed Vibrio coralliilyticus, which utilizes coral mucus as a chemical cue to locate stressed corals. However, the physiological events in the pathogens that follow their entry into the coral host environment remain unknown. Here, we present simultaneous measurements of the behavioral and transcriptional responses of V. coralliilyticus BAA-450 incubated in coral mucus. Video microscopy revealed a strong and rapid chemokinetic behavioral response by the pathogen, characterized by a two-fold increase in average swimming speed within 6 min of coral mucus exposure. RNA sequencing showed that this bacterial behavior was accompanied by an equally rapid differential expression of 53% of the genes in the V. coralliilyticus genome. Specifically, transcript abundance 10 min after mucus exposure showed upregulation of genes involved in quorum sensing, biofilm formation, and nutrient metabolism, and downregulation of flagella synthesis and chemotaxis genes. After 60 min, we observed upregulation of genes associated with virulence, including zinc metalloproteases responsible for causing coral tissue damage and algal symbiont photoinactivation, and secretion systems that may export toxins. Together, our results suggest that V. coralliilyticus employs a suite of behavioral and transcriptional responses to rapidly shift into a distinct infection mode within minutes of exposure to the coral microenvironment.
Gao, X, Pandey, S, Kianinia, M, Ahn, J, Ju, P, Aharonovich, I, Shivaram, N & Li, T 2021, 'Femtosecond Laser Writing of Spin Defects in Hexagonal Boron Nitride', ACS Photonics, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 994-1000.
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Optically active spin defects in wide-bandgap materials have many potential applications in quantum information and quantum sensing. Spin defects in two-dimensional layered van der Waals materials are just emerging to be investigated. Here we demonstrate that optically addressable spin ensembles in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) can be generated by femtosecond laser irradiation. We observe optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of hBN spin defects created by laser irradiation. We show that the creation of spin defects in hBN is strongly affected by the pulse energy of the femtosecond laser. When the laser pulse number is less than a few thousand, the pulse number only affects the density of the defects but not the type of defects. With proper laser parameters, spin defects can be generated with a high probability of success. Our work provides a convenient way to create spin defects in hBN by femtosecond laser writing, which shows promising prospects for quantum technologies.
Garces, LPDM & Cheang, GHL 2021, 'A Numerical Approach to Pricing Exchange Options under Stochastic Volatility and Jump-Diffusion Dynamics', Quantitative Finance, vol. 21, no. 12, pp. 2025-2054.
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We consider a method of lines (MOL) approach to determine prices of Europeanand American exchange options when underlying asset prices are modelled withstochastic volatility and jump-diffusion dynamics. As the MOL, as with anyother numerical scheme for PDEs, becomes increasingly complex when higherdimensions are involved, we first simplify the problem by transforming theexchange option into a call option written on the ratio of the yield processesof the two assets. This is achieved by taking the second asset yield process asthe numeraire. We also characterize the near-maturity behavior of the earlyexercise boundary of the American exchange option and analyze how modelparameters affect this behavior. Using the MOL scheme, we conduct a numericalcomparative static analysis of exchange option prices with respect to the modelparameters and investigate the impact of stochastic volatility and jumps tooption prices. We also consider the effect of boundary conditions atfar-but-finite limits of the computational domain on the overall efficiency ofthe MOL scheme. Toward these objectives, a brief exposition of the MOL and howit can be implemented on computing software are provided.
Geange, SR, Arnold, PA, Catling, AA, Coast, O, Cook, AM, Gowland, KM, Leigh, A, Notarnicola, RF, Posch, BC, Venn, SE, Zhu, L & Nicotra, AB 2021, 'The thermal tolerance of photosynthetic tissues: a global systematic review and agenda for future research', New Phytologist, vol. 229, no. 5, pp. 2497-2513.
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SummaryUnderstanding plant thermal tolerance is fundamental to predicting impacts of extreme temperature events that are increasing in frequency and intensity across the globe. Extremes, not averages, drive species evolution, determine survival and increase crop performance. To better prioritize agricultural and natural systems research, it is crucial to evaluate how researchers are assessing the capacity of plants to tolerate extreme events. We conducted a systematic review to determine how plant thermal tolerance research is distributed across wild and domesticated plants, growth forms and biomes, and to identify crucial knowledge gaps. Our review shows that most thermal tolerance research examines cold tolerance of cultivated species; c. 5% of articles consider both heat and cold tolerance. Plants of extreme environments are understudied, and techniques widely applied in cultivated systems are largely unused in natural systems. Lastly, we find that lack of standardized methods and metrics compromises the potential for mechanistic insight. Our review provides an entry point for those new to the methods used in plant thermal tolerance research and bridges often disparate ecological and agricultural perspectives for the more experienced. We present a considered agenda of thermal tolerance research priorities to stimulate efficient, reliable and repeatable research across the spectrum of plant thermal tolerance.
Gertner, DS, Bishop, DP, Oglobline, A & Padula, MP 2021, 'Enhancing Coverage of Phosphatidylinositol Species in Canola Through Specialised Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Buffer Conditions', Journal of Chromatography A, vol. 1637, pp. 461860-461860.
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Phosphatidylinositols (PIs) constitute a minor class of phospholipid with wide-spread influence throughout various cellular functions. Monitoring the distribution of these lipids can therefore provide insight as to the state of cellular processes or reveal the development of various pathologies. The speciation of these compounds is often performed either as part of a comprehensive characterisation of lipids, or specifically targeted using the same methods, however, such methods were intended to maximise coverage of lipid classes rather than provide an in-depth analysis of any single class. In the particular case of PIs, the majority of reported molecular diversity is limited to a small proportion of the already minor class, as such the cursory glance enabled by such methods is insufficient. Therefore, this work compared the suitability of both established and novel LC-MS buffers with the aim of maximising the ionisation efficiency of PIs, in an attempt to enhance coverage of the class. Through experimentation, it was determined that a 0.25 mM ammonium fluoride buffer provided up to a 6-fold increase in signal intensity, and on average a 38-fold increase in the signal-to-noise ratio. Using these new conditions, 14 PI species, and 12 PI candidates were identified within a dilute lipid extract sourced from canola seed, compared to 0 species identified using the generalised method. As a result, it is suggested that this procedure has yielded the highest number of PI species identifications for a sample of this concentration. Methods which therefore intend to characterise PI species in dilute quantities, such as those extracted from mammalian cells, are henceforth provided with the means to conduct more comprehensive characterisations.
Gibbs, MC, Parker, LM, Scanes, E, Byrne, M, O’Connor, WA & Ross, PM 2021, 'Adult exposure to ocean acidification and warming leads to limited beneficial responses for oyster larvae', ICES Journal of Marine Science, vol. 78, no. 6, pp. 2017-2030.
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AbstractThere is a need to understand the responses of marine molluscs in this era of rapid climate change. Transgenerational plasticity that results in resilient offspring provides a mechanism for rapid acclimation of marine organisms to climate change. This study tested the hypothesis that adult parental exposure to elevated pCO2 and warming will have transgenerational benefits for offspring in the oysters Saccostrea glomerata and Crassostrea gigas. Adult S. glomerata and C. gigas were exposed to orthogonal treatments of ambient and elevated pCO2, and ambient and elevated temperature for 8 weeks. Gametes were collected and fertilized, larvae were then reared for 9 days under ambient and elevated pCO2. Egg lipidome and larval morphology and lipidome were measured. Parental exposure to warming and elevated pCO2 led to limited beneficial transgenerational responses for eggs and larvae of S. glomerata and C. gigas. Overall, larvae of S. glomerata were more sensitive than C. gigas, and both species had some capacity for transgenerational plasticity. This study supports the idea that transgenerational plasticity acts as an acclimatory mechanism for marine organisms to cope with the stress of climate change, but there are limitations, and it may not be a panacea or act equally in different species.
Gibbs, MC, Parker, LM, Scanes, E, Byrne, M, O’Connor, WA & Ross, PM 2021, 'Adult exposure to ocean acidification and warming remains beneficial for oyster larvae following starvation', ICES Journal of Marine Science, vol. 78, no. 5, pp. 1587-1598.
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Abstract Climate change is expected to warm and acidify oceans and alter the phenology of phytoplankton, creating a mismatch between larvae and their food. Transgenerational plasticity (TGP) may allow marine species to acclimate to climate change; however, it is expected that this may come with elevated energetic demands. This study used the oysters, Saccostrea glomerata and Crassostrea gigas, to test the effects of adult parental exposure to elevated pCO2 and temperature on larvae during starvation and recovery. It was anticipated that beneficial effects of TGP will be limited when larvae oyster are starved. Transgenerational responses and lipid reserves of larvae were measured for 2 weeks. Larvae of C. gigas and S. glomerata from parents exposed to elevated pCO2 had greater survival when exposed to elevated CO2, but this differed between species and temperature. For S. glomerata, survival of larvae was greatest when the conditions experienced by larvae matched the condition of their parents. For C. gigas, survival of larvae was greater when parents and larvae were exposed to elevated pCO2. Larvae of both species used lipids when starved. The total lipid content was dependent on parental exposure and temperature. Against expectations, the beneficial TGP responses of larvae remained, despite starvation.
Gibbs, MC, Parker, LM, Scanes, E, Byrne, M, O'Connor, WA & Ross, PM 2021, 'Energetic lipid responses of larval oysters to ocean acidification', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 168, pp. 112441-112441.
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Climate change will increase energetic demands on marine invertebrate larvae and make planktonic food more unpredictable. This study determined the impact of ocean acidification on larval energetics of the oysters Saccostrea glomerata and Crassostrea gigas. Larvae of both oysters were reared until the 9-day-old, umbonate stage under orthogonal combinations of ambient and elevated p CO 2 (340 and 856 μatm) and food was limited. Elevated p CO 2 reduced the survival, size and larval energetics, larvae of C. gigas being more resilient than S. glomerata. When larvae were fed, elevated p CO 2 reduced lipid levels across all lipid classes. When larvae were unfed elevated p CO 2 resulted in increased lipid levels and mortality. Ocean acidification and food will interact to limit larval energetics. Larvae of S. glomerata will be more impacted than C. gigas and this is of concern given their aquacultural status and ecological function.
Gilchrist, AM, Wang, P, Carreira-Barral, I, Alonso-Carrillo, D, Wu, X, Quesada, R & Gale, PA 2021, 'Supramolecular methods: the 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (HPTS) transport assay', Supramolecular Chemistry, vol. 33, no. 7, pp. 325-344.
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Ginés, I, Gaiani, G, Ruhela, A, Skouridou, V, Campàs, M & Masip, L 2021, 'Nucleic acid lateral flow dipstick assay for the duplex detection of and', Harmful Algae, vol. 110, pp. 102135-102135.
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Glushkov, E, Mendelson, N, Chernev, A, Ritika, R, Lihter, M, Zamani, RR, Comtet, J, Navikas, V, Aharonovich, I & Radenovic, A 2021, 'Direct Growth of Hexagonal Boron Nitride on Photonic Chips for High-Throughput Characterization', ACS Photonics, vol. 8, no. 7, pp. 2033-2040.
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Adapting optical microscopy methods for nanoscale characterization of defects in two-dimensional (2D) materials is a vital step for photonic on-chip devices. To increase the analysis throughput, waveguide-based on-chip imaging platforms have been recently developed. Their inherent disadvantage, however, is the necessity to transfer the 2D material from the growth substrate to the imaging chip, which introduces nonuniform material coverage and contamination, potentially altering the characterization results. Here we present a unique approach to circumvent these shortfalls by directly growing a widely used 2D material (hexagonal boron nitride, hBN) on silicon nitride chips and optically characterizing the defects in the intact as-grown material. We compare the direct growth approach to the standard PMMA-assisted wet transfer method and confirm the clear advantages of the direct growth. While demonstrated with hBN in the current work, the method can be extended to other 2D materials.
Godecke, E, Armstrong, E, Rai, T, Ciccone, N, Rose, ML, Middleton, S, Whitworth, A, Holland, A, Ellery, F, Hankey, GJ, Cadilhac, DA & Bernhardt, J 2021, 'A randomized control trial of intensive aphasia therapy after acute stroke: The Very Early Rehabilitation for SpEech (VERSE) study', International Journal of Stroke, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 556-572.
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Background Effectiveness of early intensive aphasia rehabilitation after stroke is unknown. The Very Early Rehabilitation for SpEech trial (VERSE) aimed to determine whether intensive aphasia therapy, beginning within 14 days after stroke, improved communication recovery compared to usual care. Methods Prospective, randomized, single-blinded trial conducted at 17 acute-care hospitals across Australia/New Zealand from 2014 to 2018. Participants with aphasia following acute stroke were randomized to receive usual care (direct usual care aphasia therapy), or one of two higher intensity regimens (20 sessions of either non-prescribed (usual care-plus or prescribed (VERSE) direct aphasia therapy). The primary outcome was improvement of communication on the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised Aphasia Quotient (AQ) at 12 weeks after stroke. Our pre-planned intention to treat analysis combined high intensity groups for the primary outcome. Findings Among 13,654 acute stroke patients screened, 25% (3477) had aphasia, of whom 25% (866) were eligible and 246 randomized to usual care ( n = 81; 33%), usual care-plus ( n = 82; 33%) or VERSE ( n = 83; 34%). At 12 weeks after stroke, the primary outcome was assessed in 217 participants (88%); 14 had died, 9 had withdrawn, and 6 were too unwell for assessment. Communication recovery was 50.3% (95% CI 45.7–54.8) in the high intensity group ( n = 147) and 52.1% (95% CI 46.1–58.1) in the usual care group ( n = 70; difference −1.8, 95% CI −8.7–5.0). There was no difference between groups in non-fatal or fatal adverse events ( p = 0.72). Interpretation Early, intensive aphasia therapy did not improve communication recovery within 12 weeks post stroke compared to usual care.
Gomez, HM, Pillar, AL, Brown, AC, Kim, RY, Ali, MK, Essilfie, A-T, Vanders, RL, Frazer, DM, Anderson, GJ, Hansbro, PM, Collison, AM, Jensen, ME, Murphy, VE, Johnstone, DM, Reid, D, Milward, EA, Donovan, C & Horvat, JC 2021, 'Investigating the Links between Lower Iron Status in Pregnancy and Respiratory Disease in Offspring Using Murine Models', Nutrients, vol. 13, no. 12, pp. 4461-4461.
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Maternal iron deficiency occurs in 40–50% of all pregnancies and is associated with an increased risk of respiratory disease and asthma in children. We used murine models to examine the effects of lower iron status during pregnancy on lung function, inflammation and structure, as well as its contribution to increased severity of asthma in the offspring. A low iron diet during pregnancy impairs lung function, increases airway inflammation, and alters lung structure in the absence and presence of experimental asthma. A low iron diet during pregnancy further increases these major disease features in offspring with experimental asthma. Importantly, a low iron diet increases neutrophilic inflammation, which is indicative of more severe disease, in asthma. Together, our data demonstrate that lower dietary iron and systemic deficiency during pregnancy can lead to physiological, immunological and anatomical changes in the lungs and airways of offspring that predispose to greater susceptibility to respiratory disease. These findings suggest that correcting iron deficiency in pregnancy using iron supplements may play an important role in preventing or reducing the severity of respiratory disease in offspring. They also highlight the utility of experimental models for understanding how iron status in pregnancy affects disease outcomes in offspring and provide a means for testing the efficacy of different iron supplements for preventing disease.
Gong, Y, Xu, Z-Q, Li, D, Zhang, J, Aharonovich, I & Zhang, Y 2021, 'Two-Dimensional Hexagonal Boron Nitride for Building Next-Generation Energy-Efficient Devices', ACS Energy Letters, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 985-996.
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Gonzalez de Vega, R, Cameron, A, Clases, D, Dodgen, TM, Doble, PA & Bishop, DP 2021, '“Simultaneous targeted and non-targeted analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in environmental samples by liquid chromatography-ion mobility-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry and mass defect analysis”', Journal of Chromatography A, vol. 1653, pp. 462423-462423.
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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a large group of synthetic organic compounds which exhibit unique properties and have been extensively used for consumer and industrial products, resulting in a widespread presence in the environment. Regulation requiring PFAS monitoring has been implemented worldwide due to their potential health and eco-toxicological effects. Targeted methods are commonly used to monitor between twenty to forty PFAS compounds, representing only a small fraction of the number of compounds that may be present. Consequently, there is an increasing interest in complementary non-targeted methods to screen and identify unknown PFAS compounds with the aim to improve knowledge and to generate more accurate models regarding their environmental mobility and persistence. This work details the development of a method that simultaneously provided targeted and non-targeted PFAS analysis. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) was coupled to ion mobility-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry (IMS-QTOF-MS) and used to quantify known and screen unknown PFAS in environmental samples collected within the greater Sydney basin (Australia). The method was validated for the quantification of 14 sulfonate-based PFAS, and a non-targeted data analysis workflow was developed using a combination of mass defect analysis with common fragment and neutral loss filtering to identify fluorine-containing species. The optimised method was applied to the environmental samples and enabled the determination of 3-7 compounds from the targeted list and the detection of a further 56-107 untargeted PFAS. This simultaneous analysis reduces the complexity of multiple analyses, and allows for greater interrogation of the full PFAS load in environmental samples.
Gonzalez de Vega, R, Goyen, S, Lockwood, TE, Doble, PA, Camp, EF & Clases, D 2021, 'Characterisation of microplastics and unicellular algae in seawater by targeting carbon via single particle and single cell ICP-MS', Analytica Chimica Acta, vol. 1174, pp. 338737-338737.
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The discharge of plastic waste and subsequent formation and global distribution of microplastics (MPs) has caused great concern and highlighted the need for dedicated methods to characterise MPs in complex environmental matrices like seawater. Single particle inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (SP ICP-MS) is an elegant method for the rapid analysis of nano- and microparticles and to characterise number concentrations, mass, and size distributions. However, the analysis of carbon (C)-based microstructures such as MPs by SP ICP-MS is at an early stage. This paper investigates various strategies to improve figures of merit to detect and characterise MPs in complex matrices, such as seawater. Ten methods operating distinct acquisition modes with various collision/reaction gases, tandem MS (ICP-MS/MS) and targeting 12C or 13C were developed and compared for the analysis of polystyrene-based MPs standards in ultra-pure water and seawater. The robust analysis of MPs in seawater was accomplished by on-line aerosol dilution enabling repeatable size calibration while minimising drift effects. However, the direct analysis of seawater decreased ion transmission and required matrix-matching for accurate size calibration. Analysis of the 12C isotope instead of 13C improved the size detection limits (sDL) to 0.62 μm in ultra-pure water and to 0.96 μm in seawater. ICP-MS/MS methods decreased ion transmission but also reduced background signal and increased selectivity, particularly in the presence of spectral interferences. In the second part of this study, it was demonstrated that the developed methods were applicable for the analysis of C in unicellular organisms and allowed calibration of physical dimensions. This is relevant for the investigation and understanding of phenotypical traits associated, for example, with climate change resilience as well as oceanic C storage. SP/SC ICP-MS was employed to target five different intact Symbiodiniaceae algae str...
Goodswen, SJ, Barratt, JLN, Kennedy, PJ, Kaufer, A, Calarco, L & Ellis, JT 2021, 'Machine learning and applications in microbiology', FEMS Microbiology Reviews, vol. 45, no. 5, p. fuab015.
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ABSTRACT To understand the intricacies of microorganisms at the molecular level requires making sense of copious volumes of data such that it may now be humanly impossible to detect insightful data patterns without an artificial intelligence application called machine learning. Applying machine learning to address biological problems is expected to grow at an unprecedented rate, yet it is perceived by the uninitiated as a mysterious and daunting entity entrusted to the domain of mathematicians and computer scientists. The aim of this review is to identify key points required to start the journey of becoming an effective machine learning practitioner. These key points are further reinforced with an evaluation of how machine learning has been applied so far in a broad scope of real-life microbiology examples. This includes predicting drug targets or vaccine candidates, diagnosing microorganisms causing infectious diseases, classifying drug resistance against antimicrobial medicines, predicting disease outbreaks and exploring microbial interactions. Our hope is to inspire microbiologists and other related researchers to join the emerging machine learning revolution.
Goodswen, SJ, Kennedy, PJ & Ellis, JT 2021, 'Applying Machine Learning to Predict the Exportome of Bovine and Canine Babesia Species That Cause Babesiosis', Pathogens, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 660-660.
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Babesia infection of red blood cells can cause a severe disease called babesiosis in susceptible hosts. Bovine babesiosis causes global economic loss to the beef and dairy cattle industries, and canine babesiosis is considered a clinically significant disease. Potential therapeutic targets against bovine and canine babesiosis include members of the exportome, i.e., those proteins exported from the parasite into the host red blood cell. We developed three machine learning-derived methods (two novel and one adapted) to predict for every known Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Babesia canis protein the probability of being an exportome member. Two well-studied apicomplexan-related species, Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii, with extensive experimental evidence on their exportome or excreted/secreted proteins were used as important benchmarks for the three methods. Based on 10-fold cross validation and multiple train–validation–test splits of training data, we expect that over 90% of the predicted probabilities accurately provide a secretory or non-secretory indicator. Only laboratory testing can verify that predicted high exportome membership probabilities are creditable exportome indicators. However, the presented methods at least provide those proteins most worthy of laboratory validation and will ultimately save time and money.
Goodswen, SJ, Kennedy, PJ & Ellis, JT 2021, 'Computational Antigen Discovery for Eukaryotic Pathogens Using Vacceed', vol. 2183, pp. 29-42.
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© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021. Bioinformatics programs have been developed that exploit informative signals encoded within protein sequences to predict protein characteristics. Unfortunately, there is no program as yet that can predict whether a protein will induce a protective immune response to a pathogen. Nonetheless, predicting those pathogen proteins most likely from those least likely to induce an immune response is feasible when collectively using predicted protein characteristics. Vacceed is a computational pipeline that manages different standalone bioinformatics programs to predict various protein characteristics, which offer supporting evidence on whether a protein is secreted or membrane -associated. A set of machine learning algorithms predicts the most likely pathogen proteins to induce an immune response given the supporting evidence. This chapter provides step by step descriptions of how to configure and operate Vacceed for a eukaryotic pathogen of the user’s choice.
Gottscholl, A, Diez, M, Soltamov, V, Kasper, C, Krauße, D, Sperlich, A, Kianinia, M, Bradac, C, Aharonovich, I & Dyakonov, V 2021, 'Spin defects in hBN as promising temperature, pressure and magnetic field quantum sensors', Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 1-8.
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AbstractSpin defects in solid-state materials are strong candidate systems for quantum information technology and sensing applications. Here we explore in details the recently discovered negatively charged boron vacancies (VB−) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and demonstrate their use as atomic scale sensors for temperature, magnetic fields and externally applied pressure. These applications are possible due to the high-spin triplet ground state and bright spin-dependent photoluminescence of the VB−. Specifically, we find that the frequency shift in optically detected magnetic resonance measurements is not only sensitive to static magnetic fields, but also to temperature and pressure changes which we relate to crystal lattice parameters. We show that spin-rich hBN films are potentially applicable as intrinsic sensors in heterostructures made of functionalized 2D materials.
Gottscholl, A, Diez, M, Soltamov, V, Kasper, C, Sperlich, A, Kianinia, M, Bradac, C, Aharonovich, I & Dyakonov, V 2021, 'Room temperature coherent control of spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride', Science Advances, vol. 7, no. 14, pp. 1-6.
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Atomic defects in 2D materials show excellent spin coherence time and become promising contenders for quantum applications.
Green, DW, Watson, JA, Ben-Nissan, B, Watson, GS & Stamboulis, A 2021, 'Synthetic tissue engineering with smart, cytomimetic protocells', Biomaterials, vol. 276, pp. 120941-120941.
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Greenville, AC, Newsome, TM, Wardle, GM, Dickman, CR, Ripple, WJ & Murray, BR 2021, 'Simultaneously operating threats cannot predict extinction risk', Conservation Letters, vol. 14, no. 1.
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AbstractSpecies afflicted by multiple threats are thought to face greater extinction risk. However, it is not known whether multiple threats operate antagonistically, additively, or synergistically, or whether they vary across different taxonomic and spatial scales. We addressed these questions by analyzing threats to 10,378 species in six vertebrate classes at global and regional spatial scales using network analysis. The total number of threats was a poor predictor of extinction risk, and particular combinations of threats did not predict extinction risk in the same way at different spatial scales. The exception was cartilaginous fishes, which faced increased extinction risk with increasing numbers of threats. Except for cartilaginous fishes, our findings indicate that species facing more threats than others do not face a higher risk of extinction and suggest that effective conservation will require more investment in identifying how threats and different ecosystem stressors operate together at local scales.
Grottoli, AG, Toonen, RJ, van Woesik, R, Vega Thurber, R, Warner, ME, McLachlan, RH, Price, JT, Bahr, KD, Baums, IB, Castillo, KD, Coffroth, MA, Cunning, R, Dobson, KL, Donahue, MJ, Hench, JL, Iglesias‐Prieto, R, Kemp, DW, Kenkel, CD, Kline, DI, Kuffner, IB, Matthews, JL, Mayfield, AB, Padilla‐Gamiño, JL, Palumbi, S, Voolstra, CR, Weis, VM & Wu, HC 2021, 'Increasing comparability among coral bleaching experiments', Ecological Applications, vol. 31, no. 4.
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AbstractCoral bleaching is the single largest global threat to coral reefs worldwide. Integrating the diverse body of work on coral bleaching is critical to understanding and combating this global problem. Yet investigating the drivers, patterns, and processes of coral bleaching poses a major challenge. A recent review of published experiments revealed a wide range of experimental variables used across studies. Such a wide range of approaches enhances discovery, but without full transparency in the experimental and analytical methods used, can also make comparisons among studies challenging. To increase comparability but not stifle innovation, we propose a common framework for coral bleaching experiments that includes consideration of coral provenance, experimental conditions, and husbandry. For example, reporting the number of genets used, collection site conditions, the experimental temperature offset(s) from the maximum monthly mean (MMM) of the collection site, experimental light conditions, flow, and the feeding regime will greatly facilitate comparability across studies. Similarly, quantifying common response variables of endosymbiont (Symbiodiniaceae) and holobiont phenotypes (i.e., color, chlorophyll, endosymbiont cell density, mortality, and skeletal growth) could further facilitate cross‐study comparisons. While no single bleaching experiment can provide the data necessary to determine global coral responses of all corals to current and future ocean warming, linking studies through a common framework as outlined here, would help increase comparability among experiments, facilitate synthetic insights into the causes and underlying mechanisms of coral bleaching, and reveal unique bleaching responses among genets, species, and regions. Such a collaborative framework that fosters transparency in methods used would strengthen comparisons among studies that can help inform coral reef management and facilitate conserv...
Grzywacz, A, Jarmusz, M, Walczak, K, Skowronek, R, Johnston, NP & Szpila, K 2021, 'DNA Barcoding Identifies Unknown Females and Larvae of Fannia R.-D. (Diptera: Fanniidae) from Carrion Succession Experiment and Case Report', Insects, vol. 12, no. 5, pp. 381-381.
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Application of available keys to European Fanniidae did not facilitate unequivocal species identification for third instar larvae and females of Fannia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 collected during a study of arthropod succession on pig carrion. To link these samples to known species, we took the advantage of molecular identification methods and compared newly obtained cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode sequences against sequences deposited in reference databases. As an outcome of the results obtained, we describe for the first time a third instar larva of Fannia nigra Malloch, 1910 and Fannia pallitibia (Rondani, 1866) and a female of Fannia collini d’Assis-Fonseca, 1966. We provide combinations of characters allowing for discrimination of described insects from other Fanniidae. We provide an update for the key by Rozkošný et al. 1997, which allows differentiation between females of F. collini and other species of Fanniidae. Additionally, we provide a case of a human cadaver discovered in Southern Poland and insect fauna associated with it as the first report of F. nigra larvae developing on a human body.
Gu, Y, Guo, Z, Yuan, W, Kong, M, Liu, Y, Liu, Y, Gao, Y, Feng, W, Wang, F, Zhou, J, Jin, D & Li, F 2021, 'Author Correction: High-sensitivity imaging of time-domain near-infrared light transducer', Nature Photonics, vol. 15, no. 9, pp. 712-712.
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Guan, M & Jin, D 2021, 'Dark bridge at the interface of hybrid nanosystem: Lanthanide-triplet NIR photosensitization', Chem, vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 1412-1414.
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“Dark” organic triplet states typically require visible light to activate via singlet-triplet intersystem crossing. In this issue of Chem, Deng and co-workers report a new near-infrared photosensitization strategy using lanthanide-doped nanoparticles to directly activate the dark triplet states of organic photosensitizers, significantly reducing the power requirement of irradiance.
Guo, X, Wang, S, Yu, L, Guo, C, Yan, P, Gao, H & Liu, H 2021, 'Dense SnS2 nanoplates vertically anchored on a graphene aerogel for pseudocapacitive sodium storage', Materials Chemistry Frontiers, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 325-332.
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A 2D heterostructure with dense SnS2 nanoplates vertically anchored on a graphene aerogel (SnS2@GA) was achieved via a controlled self-assembly process followed by a thermally induced sulfidation treatment for high-performance sodium-ion batteries.
Guo, Z, Jasin Arachchige, L, Qiu, S, Zhang, X, Xu, Y, Langford, SJ & Sun, C 2021, 'p-Block element-doped silicon nanowires for nitrogen reduction reaction: a DFT study', Nanoscale, vol. 13, no. 35, pp. 14935-14944.
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B-doping on 1D SiNWs can reduce N2into NH3with an ultralow overpotential of 0.34 V and suppressed HER performance.
Guo, Z, Qiu, S, Li, H, Xu, Y, Langford, SJ & Sun, C 2021, 'Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction Performance of Si‐doped 2D Nanosheets of Boron Nitride Evaluated via Density Functional Theory', ChemCatChem, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 1239-1245.
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AbstractElectrochemical nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions is proposed as a sustainable alternative to the traditional Haber‐Bosch method to combat both a global energy crisis and climate change. However, effective catalysts for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR) under ambient conditions, a crucial part for the electrocatalysis system, still face large challenges of low Faradic efficiency (FE) and low yield of ammonia. Here, we propose Si‐doped BN 2D nanosheets (BNNS) as a new class of metal‐free catalysts, and computationally study their performance in eNRR by density functional theory (DFT). The calculations show that the Si atom in the boron‐edge site exhibits the highest activity with the over‐potential (η) of 1.06 V from the first hydrogenation step, which is close in value to the benchmark of this reaction, the flat Ru(0001) surface (η=0.92 V). Moreover, Si‐doping can greatly enhance the conductivity of pristine BNNS, making it a good candidate for electrocatalysis. Overall, this research opens up a new direction of designing high‐performance Si‐based 2D catalysts for dinitrogen fixation beyond the hotspot research of boron‐ or transition metal‐based catalysts.
Guo, Z, Qiu, S, Li, H, Xu, Y, Langford, SJ & Sun, C 2021, 'Evaluation of electrocatalytic dinitrogen reduction performance on diamond carbon via density functional theory', Diamond and Related Materials, vol. 111, pp. 108210-108210.
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Carbon-based electrocatalysts for nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions has attracted tremendous attention but still encounter great challenges of low Faradic efficiency (FE) and a sluggish kinetics. Inspired by intrinsic defects (vacancies, edges and dislocation) on graphene showing activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), here, two commonly exposed surfaces of diamond carbon, i.e., C(111) & C(110), were calculated for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR) by the density functional theory (DFT) method, and calculations show that, compared with C(110), C(111) could be highly promising towards eNRR with a low over-potential (η) of 0.57 V (ΔGmax = 0.73 eV, η = 0.57 V), which are distinctly less than that (ΔGmax = 1.08 eV, η = 0.92 V) of flat benchmark Ru(0001) catalysts. Importantly, these two surfaces are shown to exhibit the suppression of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This work is the first reported indication that the low-coordinated carbons (LCCs) on sp3-hybridized diamond-carbon framework are active for eNRR, which gives a brand-new direction of designing/synthesizing sp3-configured diamond-carbon-composited catalysts for eNRR.
Gupta, A, Corzo, R, Akmeemana, A, Lambert, K, Jimenez, K, Curran, JM & Almirall, JR 2021, 'Dimensionality reduction of multielement glass evidence to calculate likelihood ratios', Journal of Chemometrics, vol. 35, no. 1.
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AbstractDimensionality reduction of multivariate elemental concentrations of glass is reported for computing likelihood ratios (LRs). TheLRs calculated using principal component analysis (PCA) and a post hoc calibration steps result in very low (<1%) false inclusions when comparing glass samples known to originate from different sources and very low (<1%) false exclusions when comparing glass samples known to originate from the same source. TheLRs calculated using the novel PCA approach are compared with previously reportedLRs calculated using a more computationally intensive Multivariate Kernel (MVK) model followed by a calibration step using a Pool Adjacent Violators (PAV) algorithm. In both cases, the calibratedLRs limited the magnitude of the misleading evidence, providing only weak to moderate support for the incorrect hypotheses. Most of the different pairs that were found to be falsely included were explained by chemical relatedness (same manufacturer of the glass sources in very close time interval between manufacture). The computation ofLRs using dimensionality reduction of elemental concentrations using PCA may transfer to other multivariate data‐generating evidence types.
Gupta, A, Ghosh, S, Thakur, MK, Zhou, J, (Ken) Ostrikov, K, Jin, D & Chattopadhyay, S 2021, 'Up-conversion hybrid nanomaterials for light- and heat-driven applications', Progress in Materials Science, vol. 121, pp. 100838-100838.
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Composites or hybrid materials offer diverse properties not achievable in pure materials. Here we critically review the interesting and controllable fluorescence and photothermal properties of diverse hybrid materials containing up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). These hybrids couple plasmons, photonic crystals, bio-surfaces, and two dimensional (2D) materials to the UCNPs, offering optical non-linearity, and enable effective photo-electro-thermal control leading to new light and heat driven applications. Among the light driven applications, coupling of UCNPs with graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) enables photodetectors with better photoresponse, and broader spectral range not accessible to individual components. Irradiated MoS2 coupled-UCNPs is a new paradigm in resistive random access memory devices. Conjugation of graphene and perovskites, with the UCNPs, have led to novel optical limiting phenomenon and better solar cells. Examples of new opportunities offered by UCNPs in heat driven applications are photothermal water desalination using solar daylight and photothermal disintegration of fat droplets in obesity treatment. Phonons, manifesting as heat, can also be utilized to enhance fluorescence and translate to high sensitivity nanothermometers. This review covers fundamentals, and applications of the new UCNP-enabled class of hybrid materials in energy harnessing, light sources and detectors, memory devices, nanothermometers, desalination, intracellular pH sensing, and cancer theranostics.
Gupta, G, Chellappan, DK, Singh, SK, Gupta, PK, Kesari, KK, Jha, NK, Thangavelu, L, G Oliver, B & Dua, K 2021, 'Advanced Drug Delivery Approaches in Managing TGF-β-Mediated Remodeling in Lung Diseases', Nanomedicine, vol. 16, no. 25, pp. 2243-2247.
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Gupta, KD, Nag, AK, Rahman, ML, Mahmud, MAP & Sadman, N 2021, 'Utilizing Computational Complexity to Protect Cryptocurrency Against Quantum Threats: A Review', IT Professional, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 50-55.
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Guttentag, A, Krishnakumar, K, Cokcetin, N, Hainsworth, S, Harry, E & Carter, D 2021, 'Inhibition of Dermatophyte Fungi by Australian Jarrah Honey', Pathogens, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 194-194.
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Superficial dermatophyte infections, commonly known as tineas, are the most prevalent fungal ailment and are increasing in incidence, leading to an interest in alternative treatments. Many floral honeys possess antimicrobial activity due to high sugar, low pH, and the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from the activity of the bee-derived enzyme glucose oxidase. Australian jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) honey produces particularly high levels of H2O2 and has been found to be potently antifungal. This study characterized the activity of jarrah honey on fungal dermatophyte species. Jarrah honey inhibited dermatophytes with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 1.5–3.5% (w/v), which increased to ≥25% (w/v) when catalase was added. Microscopic analysis found jarrah honey inhibited the germination of Trichophyton rubrum conidia and scanning electron microscopy of mature T. rubrum hyphae after honey treatment revealed bulging and collapsed regions. When treated hyphae were stained using REDOX fluorophores these did not detect any internal oxidative stress, suggesting jarrah honey acts largely on the hyphal surface. Although H2O2 appears critical for the antifungal activity of jarrah honey and its action on fungal cells, these effects persisted when H2O2 was eliminated and could not be replicated using synthetic honey spiked with H2O2, indicating jarrah honey contains agents that augment antifungal activity.
Guttentag, A, Krishnakumar, K, Cokcetin, N, Harry, E & Carter, D 2021, 'Factors affecting the production and measurement of hydrogen peroxide in honey samples', Access Microbiology, vol. 3, no. 3.
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Many Australian native honeys possess significant antimicrobial properties due to the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by glucose oxidase, an enzyme derived from the honeybee. The level of H2O2 produced in different honey samples is highly variable, and factors governing its production and stability are not well understood. In this study, highly active Australian honeys that had been stored for >10 years lost up to 54 % of their antibacterial activity, although almost all retained sufficient activity to be considered potentially therapeutically useful. We used a simple colourimetric assay to quantify H2O2 production. Although we found a significant correlation between H2O2 production and antibacterial activity across diverse honey samples, variation in H2O2 only explained 47 % of the variation observed in activity, limiting the assay as a screening tool and highlighting the complexity of the relationship between H2O2 and the killing power of honey. To further examine this, we tested whether H2O2 detection in honey was being inhibited by pigmented compounds and if H2O2 might be directly degraded in some honey samples. We found no correlation between H2O2 detection and honey colour. Some honey samples rapidly lost endogenous and spiked H2O2, suggesting that components in honey, such as catalase or antioxidant polyphenols, may degrade or quench H2O2. Despite this rapid loss of H2O2, these honeys had significant peroxide-based antibacterial activ...
Hallegraeff, GM, Schweibold, L, Jaffrezic, E, Rhodes, L, MacKenzie, L, Hay, B & Farrell, H 2021, 'Overview of Australian and New Zealand harmful algal species occurrences and their societal impacts in the period 1985 to 2018, including a compilation of historic records', Harmful Algae, vol. 102, pp. 101848-101848.
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© 2020 Elsevier B.V. Similarities and differences between Australia and New Zealand in Harmful Algal species occurrences and Harmful Algal Events impacting on human society (HAEDAT) are reported and factors that explain their differences explored. Weekly monitoring of harmful phytoplankton and biotoxins commenced in Australia in 1986 and in New Zealand in 1993. Anecdotal historic HAB records in both countries are also catalogued. In Australia, unprecedented highly toxic Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (PST)-producing blooms of Alexandrium catenella have impacted the seafood industry along the 200 km east coast of Tasmania from 2012 to present. Toxic blooms in 1986-1993 by Gymnodinium catenatum in Tasmania were effectively mitigated by closing the affected area for shellfish farming, while a bloom by this same species in 2000 in New Zealand caused significant economic damage from restrictions on the movement of greenshell mussel spat. The biggest biotoxin event in New Zealand was an unexpected outbreak of Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning (NSP) in 1993 in Hauraki Gulf (putatively due to Karenia cf. mikimotoi) with 180 reported cases of human poisonings as well as reports of respiratory irritation north of Auckland. Strikingly, NSP never recurred in New Zealand since and no NSP events have ever been reported in Australia. In New Zealand, Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) was the predominant seafood toxin syndrome, while in Australia Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) was the major reported seafood toxin syndrome, while no CFP has been recorded from consumption of New Zealand fish. In Australia, Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) illnesses were recorded from two related outbreaks in 1997/98 following consumption of beach harvested clams (pipis) from a previously non-monitored area, whereas in New Zealand limited DSP illnesses are known. No human illnesses from Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) have been reported in either Australia or New Zealand. Selected examples...
Hamidian, M, Ambrose, SJ, Blackwell, GA, Nigro, SJ & Hall, RM 2021, 'An outbreak of multiply antibiotic-resistant ST49:ST128:KL11:OCL8Acinetobacter baumanniiisolates at a Sydney hospital', Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, vol. 76, no. 4, pp. 893-900.
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AbstractObjectivesTo understand the acquisition of resistance genes by a non-GC1, non-GC2 Acinetobacter baumannii strain responsible for a 4 year outbreak at a Sydney hospital.MethodsRepresentative isolates were screened for resistance to antibiotics. Three were subjected to WGS using Illumina HiSeq. One genome was completed with MinION long reads. Resistance regions were compared with known sequences using bioinformatics.ResultsIsolates were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, gentamicin and tobramycin, sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin. Sequenced isolates were ST49 (Institut Pasteur scheme) and ST128 (Oxford scheme) and carried KL11 at the capsule locus and OCL8 at the lipooligosaccharide outer core locus. The complete genome of isolate J9 revealed that the resistance genes were all in plasmids; pRAY* contained aadB, and a large plasmid, pJ9-3, contained sul2 and floR genes and a dif module containing the mph(E)-msr(E) macrolide resistance genes. Transposon Tn6168, consisting of a second copy of the chromosomal ampC gene region flanked by ISAba1s, confers resistance to third-generation cephalosporins. Tn6168 is located inside the mph(E)-msr(E) dif module. pJ9-3 includes a set of four dif modules and the orientation of the pdif sites, XerC-XerD or XerD-XerC, alternates. A large transposon, Tn6175, containing tniCABDE transposition genes and genes annotated as being involved in heavy metal metabolism, uptake or export was found in the comM gene. Other ST49:ST128:KL11:OCL8 genomes found in the GenBank WGS database carried Tn6175 but neither of the plasmids carrying the resistance genes.ConclusionsAn early carbapenem-susceptible A. baumannii outbreak recorded in Australia was caused by an unus...
Hamilton, LA, Shiraishi, F, Nakajima, D, Boake, M, Lim, RP, Champeau, O & Tremblay, LA 2021, 'Assessment of the efficacy of an advanced tertiary sewage treatment plant to remove biologically active chemicals using endocrine and genotoxicity bioassays', Emerging Contaminants, vol. 7, pp. 124-131.
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Han, YY, Zhang, X, Wang, J, Wang, G, Oliver, BG, Zhang, HP, Kang, DY, Wang, L, Qiu, ZX, Li, WM & Wang, G 2021, 'Multidimensional Assessment of Asthma Identifies Clinically Relevant Phenotype Overlap: A Cross-Sectional Study', The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 349-362.e18.
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BACKGROUND:Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with multiple phenotypes; however, the relevance of phenotype overlap remains largely unexplored. OBJECTIVE:To examine the relationship between phenotype overlap and clinical and inflammatory profiles of asthma. METHODS:In this cross-sectional study, adult participants with stable asthma (n = 522) underwent multidimensional assessments. The 10 most common phenotypes of asthma were defined and then classified into those commonly associated with Type (T) 2 or non-T2 inflammation. Furthermore, phenotype overlap scores (POS), representing the cumulative concomitant phenotypes, were used to analyze its association with clinical and inflammatory asthmatic profiles. RESULTS:Among the 522 participants, 73.4% (n = 383) had phenotype overlap, and mixed T2 and non-T2 inflammation coexisted in 47.5% (n = 248). T2 POS was positively associated with eosinophils, IgE, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and negatively with Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), sputum neutrophils, IL-17A, IL-8, and TNF-α. Non-T2 POS was positively associated with Asthma Control Questionnaire, neutrophils and sputum IL-8, and negatively with AQLQ, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, blood eosinophils, IgE, and FeNO (all P < .05). Patients with phenotypes that are associated with mixed T2 and non-T2 inflammation had elevated T2 inflammation biomarkers but worse asthma control. Both T2 (adjusted β = -0.191, P = .035) and non-T2 (adjusted β = 0.310, P < .001) POS were significantly associated with severe exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS:Phenotype overlap is extremely common in asthmatic patients and significantly associated with clinical and inflammatory profiles. Patients with phenotypes associated with mixed T2 and non-T2 inflammation might be unresponsive to medications owing to increased non-T2 inflammation. Multidimensional asthma assessment identifies clinically relevant phenotype overlap.
Handa, P, Shinde, N, Sivabalan, B, Varma, A, Pathak, M, Singh, S & Varma, PRP 2021, 'APPLICATION OF LIQUISOLID TECHNIQUE FOR ENHANCEMENT OF DISSOLUTION OF WATER INSOLUBLE DRUG CHOLECALCIFEROL', INDIAN DRUGS, vol. 58, no. 01, pp. 64-72.
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The issue of low solubility and bioavailability poses a significant challenge for most of the drug candidates for oral delivery. Liquisolid, a recently evolved technique for dissolution enhancement, can dodge these barriers. The purpose of this research was to increase the solubility of poorly soluble drug cholecalciferol by liquisolid technique. The cholecalciferol’s solubility studies were performed in a mixture of Polysorbate 80 and PEG 400 in different ratios (1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 1:3, and 3:1). Maximum solubility was observed in a 1:2 ratio. There were changes in the X-ray diffractogram and shifting of the endothermic peak in DSC from 85oC to 146oC, which indicated the drug’s conversion into an amorphous form. The liquisolid form was adsorbed on the carrier material and compressed. The optimization was done by using Plackett Burman Design with Design-Expert software. It was observed that the drugs release profile of the optimized formulation was better than the generic product and was comparable to Divisun tablets 2000 I.U (Innovator).
Haq, S, Biswas, SP, Jahan, S, Islam, MR, Rahman, MA, Mahmud, MAP & Kouzani, AZ 2021, 'An Advanced PWM Technique for MMC Inverter Based Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems', IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1-5.
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Recent developments in multilevel inverters have provided impetus for their applications in the medium voltage renewable energy generation processes. This paper proposes an advanced pulse width modulation technique for a modular multilevel cascaded (MMC) inverter based grid integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) system. It offers lower total harmonic distortion (THD) and power losses compared to the existing modulation techniques. This paper shows the design and performance evaluation of the proposed technique using a 3-phase 5-level MMC inverter-based grid connected PV system. The proposed PWM technique offers 12.49% (without filter) and 0.96% (with filter) output line voltage THDs. It also offers 4.64% output current THD, which complies with the IEEE-519 standard for grid integration. Besides THD reduction, it also reduces the switching and conduction power losses of the MMC inverter. Lower losses may help to keep device temperature low, which is essential for power converters used in superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems. The simulation is performed in MATLAB/Simulink and the proposed technique is experimentally validated with a laboratory test platform.
Hardwick, J, Taylor, J, Mehta, M, Satija, S, Paudel, KR, Hansbro, PM, Chellappan, DK, Bebawy, M & Dua, K 2021, 'Targeting Cancer using Curcumin Encapsulated Vesicular Drug Delivery Systems', Current Pharmaceutical Design, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 2-14.
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Curcumin is a major curcuminoid present in turmeric. The compound is attributed to various therapeuticproperties, which include anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-malarial, and neuroprotection.Due to its therapeutic potential, curcumin has been employed for centuries in treating different ailments. Curcuminhas been investigated lately as a novel therapeutic agent in the treatment of cancer. However, the mechanismsby which curcumin exerts its cytotoxic effects on malignant cells are still not fully understood. One of themain limiting factors in the clinical use of curcumin is its poor bioavailability and rapid elimination. Advancementsin drug delivery systems such as nanoparticle-based vesicular drug delivery platforms have improved severalparameters, namely, drug bioavailability, solubility, stability, and controlled release properties. The use ofcurcumin-encapsulated niosomes to improve the physical and pharmacokinetic properties of curcumin is one suchapproach. This review provides an up-to-date summary of nanoparticle-based vesicular drug carriers and theirtherapeutic applications. Specifically, we focus on niosomes as novel drug delivery formulations and their potentialin improving the delivery of challenging small molecules, including curcumin. Overall, the applications ofsuch carriers will provide a new direction for novel pharmaceutical drug delivery, as well as for biotechnology,nutraceutical, and functional food industries.
Hartigan, J, MacNamara, S, Leslie, L & Speer, M 2021, 'High resolution simulations of a tornadic storm affecting Sydney', ANZIAM Journal, vol. 62, pp. C1-C15.
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On 16 December 2015 a severe thunderstorm and associated tornado affected Sydney causing widespread damage and insured losses of $206 million. Severe impacts occurred in Kurnell, requiring repairs to Sydney's desalination plant which supplies up to 15% of Sydney water during drought, with repairs only completed at the end of 2018. Climatologically, this storm was unusual as it occurred during the morning and had developed over the ocean, rather than developing inland during the afternoon as is the case for many severe storms impacting the Sydney region. Simulations of the Kurnell storm were conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model on a double nested domain using the Morrison microphysics scheme and the NSSL 2-moment 4-ice microphysics scheme. Both simulations produced severe storms that followed paths similar to the observed storm. However, the storm produced under the Morrison scheme did not have the same morphology as the observed storm. Meanwhile, the storm simulated with the NSSL scheme displayed cyclical low- and mid-level mesocyclone development, which was observed in the Kurnell storm, highlighting that the atmosphere supported the development of severe rotating thunderstorms with the potential for tornadogenesis. The NSSL storm also produced severe hail and surface winds, similar to observations. The ability of WRF to simulate general convective characteristics and a storm similar to that observed displays the applicability of this model to study the causes of severe high-impact Australian thunderstorms.ReferencesJ. T. Allen and E. R. Allen. A review of severe thunderstorms in Australia. Atmos. Res., 178:347–366, 2016. doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2016.03.011.Bureau of Meteorology. Severe Storms Archive, 2020. URL http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/stormarchive/.D. T. Dawson II, M. Xue, J. A. Milbrandt, and M. K. Yau. Comparison of evaporation and cold pool development between single-moment and multimoment bulk microp...
Hasan, J, Islam, MR, Islam, MR, Kouzani, AZ & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'A Capacitive Bridge-Type Superconducting Fault Current Limiter to Improve the Transient Performance of DFIG/PV/SG-Based Hybrid Power System', IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1-5.
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This paper proposes a capacitive bridge-type superconducting fault current limiter (CB-SFCL) to address the most concerning issue with the grid connected hybrid power system by improving the transient performance. The hybrid system incorporates a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) based wind farm, a solar photovoltaic (PV) system and a synchronous generator (SG) based power system. The CB-SFCL incorporates a high temperature superconductor (HTS) along with a power capacitor to provide adequate reactive power support before and after the fault. The capacitor is kept inactive during normal operation by a control circuit to ensure seamless operation. During fault, the capacitor gets connected in series with the HTS and suppress the fault current. The performance of the CB-SFCL is investigated by proper graphical and mathematical analyses and conclusions are obtained by comparing them with that of the conventional bridge-type superconducting fault current limiter (BSFCL) and the capacitive bridge-type fault current limiter (CBFCL). The analyses support the theoretical superiority of the CB-SFCL over the BSFCL and the CBFCL by a satisfying margin.
Hasan, M, Altaf, M, Zafar, A, Hassan, SG, Ali, Z, Mustafa, G, Munawar, T, Saif, MS, Tariq, T, Iqbal, F, Khan, MW, Mahmood, A, Mahmood, N & Shu, X 2021, 'Bioinspired synthesis of zinc oxide nano-flowers: A surface enhanced antibacterial and harvesting efficiency', Materials Science and Engineering: C, vol. 119, pp. 111280-111280.
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Despite of broad range application, the cost effective, highly stable and reproduceable synthesis of ZnO is needed, especially which can make it biosafe as well. Here, a unique bioinspired synthesis of ZnO nanoflowers (NFs) has been introduced using Withania coagulans extract as reducing agent. Different molar concentrations were assessed to counter the effect of structural, morphological, antibacterial activity and high efficiency of algae harvesting. The UV-spectroscopy authenticates the synthesis of ZnO NFs having Wurtzite hexagonal structure with the size in the range of 360-550 nm. While surface analysis revealed the presence of stabilizing agent like phenolic, amine, etc. on surface of ZnO NFs. These perineum ZnO NFs exhibited a stronger antibacterial with Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus as compare to Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and greater harvesting efficiency up to 94% on the account of greater surface area and unique surface chemistry, thus leading a new horizon of more efficient and effective applications for ethanol production.
Hasan, M, Gulzar, H, Zafar, A, ul Haq, A, Mustafa, G, Tariq, T, Khalid, A, Mahmmod, A, Shu, X & Mahmood, N 2021, 'Multiplexing surface anchored functionalized iron carbide nanoparticle: A low molecular weight proteome responsive nano-tracer', Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, vol. 203, pp. 111746-111746.
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Häußler, S, Bayer, G, Waltrich, R, Mendelson, N, Li, C, Hunger, D, Aharonovich, I & Kubanek, A 2021, 'Tunable Fiber‐Cavity Enhanced Photon Emission from Defect Centers in hBN', Advanced Optical Materials, vol. 9, no. 17, pp. 1-8.
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AbstractRealization of quantum photonic devices requires coupling single quantum emitters to the mode of optical resonators. In this work, a hybrid system consisting of defect centers in few‐layer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) grown by chemical vapor deposition and a fiber‐based Fabry–Pérot cavity is presented. The sub 10‐nm thickness of hBN and its smooth surface enable efficient integration into the cavity mode. This hybrid platform is operated over a broad spectral range larger than 30 nm and its tuneability is used to explore different coupling regimes. Consequently, very large cavity‐assisted signal enhancement up to 50‐fold and strongly narrowed linewidths are achieved, which is owing to cavity funneling, a record for hBN‐cavity systems. Additionally, an excitation and readout scheme is implemented for resonant excitation that allows to establish cavity‐assisted photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy. This work marks an important milestone for the deployment of 2D materials coupled to fiber‐based cavities in practical quantum technologies.
Haydon, TD, Seymour, JR, Raina, J-B, Edmondson, J, Siboni, N, Matthews, JL, Camp, EF & Suggett, DJ 2021, 'Rapid Shifts in Bacterial Communities and Homogeneity of Symbiodiniaceae in Colonies of Pocillopora acuta Transplanted Between Reef and Mangrove Environments', Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12, p. 756091.
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It has been proposed that an effective approach for predicting whether and how reef-forming corals persist under future climate change is to examine populations thriving in present day extreme environments, such as mangrove lagoons, where water temperatures can exceed those of reef environments by more than 3°C, pH levels are more acidic (pH < 7.9, often below 7.6) and O2 concentrations are regularly considered hypoxic (<2 mg/L). Defining the physiological features of these “extreme” corals, as well as their relationships with the, often symbiotic, organisms within their microbiome, could increase our understanding of how corals will persist into the future. To better understand coral-microbe relationships that potentially underpin coral persistence within extreme mangrove environments, we therefore conducted a 9-month reciprocal transplant experiment, whereby specimens of the coral Pocillopora acuta were transplanted between adjacent mangrove and reef sites on the northern Great Barrier Reef. Bacterial communities associated with P. acuta specimens native to the reef environment were dominated by Endozoicomonas, while Symbiodiniaceae communities were dominated by members of the Cladocopium genus. In contrast, P. acuta colonies native to the mangrove site exhibited highly diverse bacterial communities with no dominating members, and Symbiodiniaceae communities dominated by Durusdinium. All corals survived for 9 months after being transplanted from reef-to-mangrove, mangrove-to-reef environments (as well as control within environment transplants), and during this time there were significant changes in the bacterial communities, but not in the Symbiodiniaceae communities or their photo-physiological functioning. In reef-to-mangrove transplanted corals, t...
Hayward, RJ, Humphrys, MS, Huston, WM & Myers, GSA 2021, 'Dual RNA-seq analysis of in vitro infection multiplicity and RNA depletion methods in Chlamydia-infected epithelial cells', Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1.
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AbstractDual RNA-seq experiments examining viral and bacterial pathogens are increasing, but vary considerably in their experimental designs, such as infection rates and RNA depletion methods. Here, we have applied dual RNA-seq to Chlamydia trachomatis infected epithelial cells to examine transcriptomic responses from both organisms. We compared two time points post infection (1 and 24 h), three multiplicity of infection (MOI) ratios (0.1, 1 and 10) and two RNA depletion methods (rRNA and polyA). Capture of bacterial-specific RNA were greatest when combining rRNA and polyA depletion, and when using a higher MOI. However, under these conditions, host RNA capture was negatively impacted. Although it is tempting to use high infection rates, the implications on host cell survival, the potential reduced length of infection cycles and real world applicability should be considered. This data highlights the delicate nature of balancing host–pathogen RNA capture and will assist future transcriptomic-based studies to achieve more specific and relevant infection-related biological insights.
He, Y, Zhang, Y, Liao, Y, Dennis, ES, Peacock, WJ & Wu, X 2021, 'Rice hybrid mimics have stable yields equivalent to those of the F1 hybrid and suggest a basis for hybrid vigour', Planta, vol. 254, no. 3.
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Hegarty, A, Stewart, J & Gladstone, W 2021, 'Reproductive strategies of a temperate Australian sciaenid (teraglin, Atractoscion atelodus )', Journal of Applied Ichthyology, vol. 37, no. 5, pp. 735-747.
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Herdean, A, Hall, CC, Pham, LL, Macdonald Miller, S, Pernice, M & Ralph, PJ 2021, 'Action Spectra and Excitation Emission Matrices reveal the broad range of usable photosynthetic active radiation for Phaeodactylum tricornutum', Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics, vol. 1862, no. 9, pp. 148461-148461.
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Hickey, BA, Chalmers, T, Newton, P, Lin, C-T, Sibbritt, D, McLachlan, CS, Clifton-Bligh, R, Morley, J & Lal, S 2021, 'Smart Devices and Wearable Technologies to Detect and Monitor Mental Health Conditions and Stress: A Systematic Review', Sensors, vol. 21, no. 10, pp. 3461-3461.
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Recently, there has been an increase in the production of devices to monitor mental health and stress as means for expediting detection, and subsequent management of these conditions. The objective of this review is to identify and critically appraise the most recent smart devices and wearable technologies used to identify depression, anxiety, and stress, and the physiological process(es) linked to their detection. The MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central, and PsycINFO databases were used to identify studies which utilised smart devices and wearable technologies to detect or monitor anxiety, depression, or stress. The included articles that assessed stress and anxiety unanimously used heart rate variability (HRV) parameters for detection of anxiety and stress, with the latter better detected by HRV and electroencephalogram (EGG) together. Electrodermal activity was used in recent studies, with high accuracy for stress detection; however, with questionable reliability. Depression was found to be largely detected using specific EEG signatures; however, devices detecting depression using EEG are not currently available on the market. This systematic review highlights that average heart rate used by many commercially available smart devices is not as accurate in the detection of stress and anxiety compared with heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, and possibly respiratory rate.
Hiscocks, HG, Yit, DL, Pascali, G & Ung, AT 2021, 'Incorporation of the pentafluorosulfanyl group through common synthetic transformations', Monatshefte für Chemie - Chemical Monthly, vol. 152, no. 4, pp. 449-459.
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Hogg, PJ 2021, 'Toxicokinetics of the tumour cell mitochondrial toxin, PENAO, in rodents', Investigational New Drugs, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 756-763.
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Holland, MM, Everett, JD, Cox, MJ, Doblin, MA & Suthers, IM 2021, 'Pelagic forage fish distribution in a dynamic shelf ecosystem – Thermal demands and zooplankton prey distribution', Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, vol. 249, pp. 107074-107074.
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Honey, R, McLean, C, Murray, BR & Webb, JK 2021, 'Insulated nest boxes provide thermal refuges for wildlife in urban bushland during summer heatwaves', Journal of Urban Ecology, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 1-8.
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Abstract In urban bushland, the installation of nest boxes is widely used to compensate for the loss of natural tree hollows. However, current nest box designs may not provide thermal refuges for wildlife during summer heatwaves, particularly if internal temperatures exceed the upper critical temperatures of wildlife. We investigated whether the addition of roofing insulation to nest boxes deployed for sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) and squirrel gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) in urban bushland would reduce internal nest box temperatures during summer heatwaves. We measured temperatures of 44 insulated and 47 uninsulated nest boxes during one of the hottest summers on record (2018–2019) in the Lake Macquarie region of NSW, Australia, a period during which several prolonged heatwaves occurred. Over the 90-day study, maximum temperatures were, on average, 3.1°C lower in insulated boxes than in uninsulated boxes. The addition of insulation significantly lowered nest box temperatures regardless of aspect (north or south facing) or day of measurement. Temperatures exceeded the upper critical temperature (35.1°C) of gliders more frequently in uninsulated nest boxes (28% of days) than in insulated nest boxes (8% days). Although the addition of insulation to nest boxes lowered their internal temperatures, during heatwaves spanning 23 days, nest box temperatures exceeded the upper critical temperatures of gliders on 58% and 23% of days in uninsulated and insulated nest boxes respectively. These findings underscore the importance of retaining natural hollows in urban bushland to provide thermally suitable refuges for wildlife during extreme heat events.
Honey, R, McLean, CM, Murray, BR, Callan, MN & Webb, JK 2021, 'Choice of monitoring method can influence estimates of usage of artificial hollows by vertebrate fauna', Australian Journal of Zoology, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 18-25.
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The loss of hollow-bearing trees is a key threat for many hollow-dependent taxa. Nesting boxes have been widely used to offset tree hollow loss, but they have high rates of attrition, and, often, low rates of usage by target species. To counter these problems, chainsaw carved hollows (artificial cavities cut into trees) have become a popular alternative, yet little research has been published on their effectiveness. We examined the usage of 150 chainsaw carved hollows by cavity-dependent fauna in the central west of New South Wales using observations from traditional inspection methods and remote cameras. Between October 2017 and April 2019, we detected 21 species of vertebrates (two reptile, one amphibian, 10 bird, and eight mammal species) inside chainsaw carved hollows, but the number of species detected was dependent on the chosen monitoring method. We detected six species inside hollows during physical inspections, whereas remote cameras detected 21 species entering hollows. Cameras detected eight species using hollows as breeding sites, whereas physical inspections detected just four species. Cameras detected two threatened mammals (squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) and greater glider (Petauroides volans)) raising young inside hollows, yet we failed to detect these species during physical inspections. For birds, the two methods yielded equivalent results for detection of breeding events. Overall, our study showed that few cavity-dependent species used chainsaw carved hollows as breeding sites. This highlights how artificial hollows are not a substitute for retaining naturally occurring hollows in large trees and revegetation programs.
Horstmann, M, Gonzalez de Vega, R, Bishop, DP, Karst, U, Doble, PA & Clases, D 2021, 'Determination of gadolinium MRI contrast agents in fresh and oceanic waters of Australia employing micro-solid phase extraction, HILIC-ICP-MS and bandpass mass filtering', Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 767-775.
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Speciation analysis of Gd-based MRI contrast agents in fresh and oceanic waters employing an automatised micro-solid phase extraction method and HILIC-ICP-MS detection operating an increased mass bandpass.
Hossain, MA, Brito-Rodriguez, B, Sedger, LM & Canning, J 2021, 'A Cross-Disciplinary View of Testing and Bioinformatic Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Human Respiratory Viruses in Pandemic Settings', IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 163716-163734.
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Hossain, MJ, Kendig, MD, Wild, BM, Morris, MJ & Arnold, R 2021, 'Effects of Diet Reversal on Metabolic and Peripheral Neuropathy Endpoints in a Rat Model of Cafeteria Diet-Induced Obesity', Metabolism, vol. 116, pp. 154638-154638.
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Hossain, R, Ahmed, AJ, Yun, FF, Sang, L, Islam, SMKN, Yang, G, Cortie, MB & Wang, X 2021, 'Significant enhancement of electrical conductivity by incorporating carbon fiber into CoSb3 thermoelectric skutterudite fabricated by spark plasma sintering method', Journal of Materials Science, vol. 56, no. 36, pp. 20138-20153.
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Hossain, SI, Luo, Z, Deplazes, E & Saha, SC 2021, 'Shape matters—the interaction of gold nanoparticles with model lung surfactant monolayers', Journal of The Royal Society Interface, vol. 18, no. 183.
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The lung surfactant monolayer (LSM) forms the main biological barrier for any inhaled particles to enter our bloodstream, including gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) present as air pollutants and under investigation for use in biomedical applications. Understanding the interaction of AuNPs with lung surfactant can assist in understanding how AuNPs enter our lungs. In this study, we use coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effect of four different shape D AuNPs (spherical, box, icosahedron and rod) on the structure and dynamics of a model LSM, with a particular focus on differences resulting from the shape of the AuNP. Monolayer-AuNP systems were simulated in two different states: the compressed state and the expanded state, representing inhalation and exhalation conditions, respectively. Our results indicate that the compressed state is more affected by the presence of the AuNPs than the expanded state. Our results show that in the compressed state, the AuNPs prevent the monolayer from reaching the close to zero surface tension required for normal exhalation. In the compressed state, all four nanoparticles (NPs) reduce the lipid order parameters and cause a thinning of the monolayer where the particles drag surfactant molecules into the water phase. Comparing the different properties shows no trend concerning which shape has the biggest effect on the monolayer, as shape-dependent effects vary among the different properties. Insights from this study might assist future work of how AuNP shapes affect the LSM during inhalation or exhalation conditions.
Hossain, SI, Saha, SC & Deplazes, E 2021, 'Phenolic compounds alter the ion permeability of phospholipid bilayersviaspecific lipid interactions', Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, vol. 23, no. 39, pp. 22352-22366.
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How phenolic compounds interact with biological membranes and alter the menbrane properties.
Hosseinabadi, F, Soleymani, B, Adib, E, Islam, MR, Farzanehfard, H, Kouzani, AZ & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'A soft‐switching inverting high step‐down converter with a pair of coupled inductors and self‐driven synchronous rectifier', IET Power Electronics, vol. 14, no. 15, pp. 2441-2451.
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AbstractIn this paper, a non‐isolated coupled‐inductor high step‐down converter with extended duty cycle is proposed, which operates under discontinuous conduction mode. The soft‐switching condition is provided for all the switches and diodes, which results in the reduction of the switching losses, and the losses related to diode reverse recovery problem. Also, a self‐drive circuit is used to automatically generate the ON and OFF gate signals of the synchronous rectifier, which recovers the gate energy and reduces the complexity. In this topology, only a single coupled inductor is proposed which decreases the size and cost of the proposed converter. A 200 W laboratory prototype is implemented, and its results confirm the validity of theoretical analysis and advantages of the proposed converter over previous structures.
Howlett, L, Camp, EF, Edmondson, J, Henderson, N & Suggett, DJ 2021, 'Coral growth, survivorship and return-on-effort within nurseries at high-value sites on the Great Barrier Reef', PLOS ONE, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. e0244961-e0244961.
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Coral reefs are deteriorating worldwide prompting reef managers and stakeholders to increasingly explore new management tools. Following back-to-back bleaching in 2016/2017, multi-taxa coral nurseries were established in 2018 for the first time on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) to aid reef maintenance and restoration at a “high-value” location–Opal Reef–frequented by the tourism industry. Various coral species (n = 11) were propagated within shallow water (ca. 4-7m) platforms installed across two sites characterised by differing environmental exposure–one adjacent to a deep-water channel (Blue Lagoon) and one that was relatively sheltered (RayBan). Growth rates of coral fragments placed onto nurseries were highly variable across taxa but generally higher at Blue Lagoon (2.1–10.8 cm2 month-1 over 12 months) compared to RayBan (0.6–6.6 cm2 month-1 over 9 months). Growth at Blue Lagoon was largely independent of season, except for Acropora tenuis and Acropora hyacinthus, where growth rates were 15–20% higher for December 2018-July 2019 (“warm season”) compared to August-December 2018 (“cool season”). Survivorship across all 2,536 nursery fragments was ca. 80–100%, with some species exhibiting higher survivorship at Blue Lagoon (Acropora loripes, Porites cylindrica) and others at RayBan (A. hyacinthus, Montipora hispida). Parallel measurements of growth and survivorship were used to determine relative return-on-effort (RRE) scores as an integrated metric of “success” accounting for life history trade-offs, complementing the mutually exclusive assessment of growth or survivorship. RRE scores within sites (across species) were largely driven by growth, whereas RRE scores between sites ...
Huang, H, Zhan, Y, Tao, Y, Ai, C, Ren, D & Jin, D 2021, 'Three-dimensional characterization of bonding features for asphalt pavement interface using a novel interlayer isolation film', Construction and Building Materials, vol. 311, pp. 125301-125301.
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Huang, Q, Jacquelot, N, Preaudet, A, Hediyeh-zadeh, S, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, F, McKenzie, ANJ, Hansbro, PM, Davis, MJ, Mielke, LA, Putoczki, TL & Belz, GT 2021, 'Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells Protect against Colorectal Cancer Progression and Predict Improved Patient Survival', Cancers, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 559-559.
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Chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract contributes to colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. While the role of adaptive T cells in CRC is now well established, the role of innate immune cells, specifically innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), is not well understood. To define the role of ILCs in CRC we employed complementary heterotopic and chemically-induced CRC mouse models. We discovered that ILCs were abundant in CRC tumours and contributed to anti-tumour immunity. We focused on ILC2 and showed that ILC2-deficient mice developed a higher tumour burden compared with littermate wild-type controls. We generated an ILC2 gene signature and using machine learning models revealed that CRC patients with a high intratumor ILC2 gene signature had a favourable clinical prognosis. Collectively, our results highlight a critical role for ILC2 in CRC, suggesting a potential new avenue to improve clinical outcomes through ILC2-agonist based therapeutic approaches.
Huang, T, Long, M, Xiao, J, Liu, H & Wang, G 2021, 'Recent research on emerging organic electrode materials for energy storage', Energy Materials, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 100009-100009.
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Due to the growth of the demand for rechargeable batteries in intelligent terminals, electric vehicles, energy storage, and other markets, electrode materials, as the essential of batteries, have attracted tremendous attention. The research of emerging organic electrode materials in batteries has been boosted recently to their advantages of low cost, environmental friendliness, biodegradability, and designability. This manuscript highlights and classifies several recent studies on organic electrode materials and lists their potential applications in various battery systems. Finally, the challenge and perspective of organic electrode materials are also summarized.
Huang, T, Yang, M, Zeng, Y, Huang, X, Wang, N, Chen, Y, Li, P, Yuan, J, Chen, C, Oliver, BG & Yi, C 2021, 'Maternal High Fat Diet Consumption Exaggerates Metabolic Disorders in Mice With Cigarette-Smoking Induced Intrauterine Undernutrition', Frontiers in Nutrition, vol. 8, p. 638576.
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Objectives: Maternal smoking causes fetal underdevelopment and results in births which are small for gestation age due to intrauterine undernutrition, leading to various metabolic disorders in adulthood. Furthermore, postnatal high fat diet (HFD) consumption is also a potent obesogenic factor, which can interact with maternal smoking. In this study, we aimed to determine whether maternal HFD consumption during pregnancy can reverse the adverse impact of maternal smoking and change the response to postnatal HFD consumption.Methods: Female mice were exposed to cigarette smoke (SE, 2 cigarettes/day) or sham exposed for 5 weeks before mating, with half of the SE dams fed HFD (43% fat, SE+HFD). The same treatment continued throughout gestation and lactation. Male offspring from each maternal group were fed the same HFD or chow after weaning and sacrificed at 13 weeks.Results: Maternal SE alone increased body weight and fat mass in HFD-fed offspring, while SE+HFD offspring showed the highest energy intake and glucose metabolic disorder in adulthood. In addition, postnatal HFD increased the body weight and aggravated the metabolic disorder caused by maternal SE and SE+HFD.Conclusions: Maternal HFD consumption could not ameliorate the adverse effect of maternal SE but exaggerate metabolic disorders in adult offspring. Smoking cessation and a healthy diet are needed during pregnancy to optimize the health outcome in the offspring.
Huang, X, Cai, H, Li, H, Su, Y, Li, H, Li, W, Yi, C, Oliver, BG & Chen, H 2021, 'Cinnamon as Dietary Supplement Caused Hyperlipidemia in Healthy Rats', Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2021, pp. 1-7.
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Objective. Cinnamon is a cooking spice and a medicinal herb. It is increasingly used as a health supplement due to its perceived benefit to prevent and or manage type 2 diabetes and metabolic disorders. However, it is unclear if regular consumption of this medicinal plant will interfere with normal physiological functions. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of daily cinnamon supplements on glucose and lipid metabolic profiles in healthy rats. Methods. Male rats (Sprague Dawley, 8 weeks) were supplied with cinnamon in their diet (equivalent to ∼1 g/day in humans) for two weeks. Blood glucose and lipid levels, as well as metabolic markers in both liver and abdominal white adipose tissue, were measured. Results. Cinnamon significantly increased fat mass and blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, but reduced fasting blood glucose level by 12%. Liver functional enzymes were normal in rats consuming cinnamon. However, several lipid metabolic markers were impaired which may contribute to dyslipidemia, including two main switches for energy metabolism (sirtuin 1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α) and the LDL receptor. However, de novo lipid synthesis enzymes and inflammatory markers were also reduced in the liver by cinnamon treatment, which may potentially prevent the development of steatosis. Markers for lipid oxidation were downregulated in fat tissue in cinnamon-treated rats, contributing to increased fat accumulation. Conclusion. Daily low-dose cinnamon supplementation seems to promote abdominal adipose tissue accumulation and disturb lipid homeostasis in healthy rats, raising the concerns regarding daily use in healthy people.
Huang, X, Su, Y, Wang, N, Li, H, Li, Z, Yin, G, Chen, H, Niu, J & Yi, C 2021, 'Astroglial Connexins in Neurodegenerative Diseases', Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, vol. 14.
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Astrocytes play a crucial role in the maintenance of the normal functions of the Central Nervous System (CNS). During the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, astrocytes undergo morphological and functional remodeling, a process called reactive astrogliosis, in response to the insults to the CNS. One of the key aspects of the reactive astrocytes is the change in the expression and function of connexins. Connexins are channel proteins that highly expressed in astrocytes, forming gap junction channels and hemichannels, allowing diffusional trafficking of small molecules. Alterations of astrocytic connexin expression and function found in neurodegenerative diseases have been shown to affect the disease progression by changing neuronal function and survival. In this review, we will summarize the role of astroglial connexins in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Also, we will discuss why targeting connexins can be a plausible therapeutic strategy to manage these neurodegenerative diseases.
Hudspith, M, Rix, L, Achlatis, M, Bougoure, J, Guagliardo, P, Clode, PL, Webster, NS, Muyzer, G, Pernice, M & de Goeij, JM 2021, 'Subcellular view of host–microbiome nutrient exchange in sponges: insights into the ecological success of an early metazoan–microbe symbiosis', Microbiome, vol. 9, no. 1.
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Abstract Background Sponges are increasingly recognised as key ecosystem engineers in many aquatic habitats. They play an important role in nutrient cycling due to their unrivalled capacity for processing both dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOM and POM) and the exceptional metabolic repertoire of their diverse and abundant microbial communities. Functional studies determining the role of host and microbiome in organic nutrient uptake and exchange, however, are limited. Therefore, we coupled pulse-chase isotopic tracer techniques with nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) to visualise the uptake and translocation of 13C- and 15N-labelled dissolved and particulate organic food at subcellular level in the high microbial abundance sponge Plakortis angulospiculatus and the low microbial abundance sponge Halisarca caerulea. Results The two sponge species showed significant enrichment of DOM- and POM-derived 13C and 15N into their tissue over time. Microbial symbionts were actively involved in the assimilation of DOM, but host filtering cells (choanocytes) appeared to be the primary site of DOM and POM uptake in both sponge species overall, via pinocytosis and phagocytosis, respectively. Translocation of carbon and nitrogen from choanocytes to microbial symbionts occurred over time, irrespective of microbial abundance, reflecting recycling of host waste products by the microbiome. Conclusions Here, we provide empirical evidence indicating that the prokaryotic communities of a high and ...
Hughes, DJ, Giannini, FC, Ciotti, AM, Doblin, MA, Ralph, PJ, Varkey, D, Verma, A & Suggett, DJ 2021, 'Taxonomic Variability in the Electron Requirement for Carbon Fixation Across Marine Phytoplankton', Journal of Phycology, vol. 57, no. 1, pp. 111-127.
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Fast Repetition Rate fluorometry (FRRf) has been increasingly used to measure marine primary productivity by oceanographers to understand how carbon (C) uptake patterns vary over space and time in the global ocean. As FRRf measures electron transport rates through photosystem II (ETRPSII), a critical, but difficult to predict conversion factor termed the “electron requirement for carbon fixation” (Φe,C) is needed to scale ETRPSII to C‐fixation rates. Recent studies have generally focused on understanding environmental regulation of Φe,C, while taxonomic control has been explored by only a handful of laboratory studies encompassing a limited diversity of phytoplankton species. We therefore assessed Φe,C for a wide range of marine phytoplankton (n = 17 strains) spanning multiple taxonomic and size classes. Data mined from previous studies were further considered to determine whether Φe,C variability could be explained by taxonomy versus other phenotypic traits influencing growth and physiological performance (e.g., cell size). We found that Φe,C exhibited considerable variability (~4–10 mol e‐ · [mol C]−1) and was negatively correlated with growth rate (R2 = 0.7, P < 0.01). Diatoms exhibited a lower Φe,C compared to chlorophytes during steady‐state, nutrient‐replete growth. Inclusion of meta‐analysis data did not find significant relationships between Φe,C and class, or growth rate, although confounding factors inherent to methodological inconsistencies between studies likely contributed to this. Knowledge of empirical relationships between Φe,C and growth rate coupled with recent improvements in ...
Hundal, AK, Ali, S, Agarwal, A, Jameel, MA, Jones, LA, Li, J-L, Evans, RA, Langford, SJ & Gupta, A 2021, 'Enhanced Photovoltaic Efficiency via Control of Self-Assembly in Cyanopyridone-Based Oligothiophene Donors', The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 919-924.
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The optoelectronic properties of functional π-conjugated organic materials are affected by their ability to self-assemble within thin films of devices. There are limited reports that demonstrate the positive impact of self-assembly on the photovoltaic performance of organic solar cells. Here, we demonstrate that hydrogen-bonded supramolecular arrays of a cyanopyridone-based oligothiophene donor, CP6, show notable improvement in photovoltaic performance upon self-assembly into a nanofibrous network. The honeycomb-like blend network exhibited higher hole mobility, leading to efficient charge generation and transport. The photovoltaic performance of CP6 was superior to that of two structural analogues, CP5 and CP1, and was attributed to the enhanced capability of CP6 to self-assemble into a film morphology favorable for BHJ devices. The BHJ devices comprising CP6 and the conventional fullerene acceptor (PC71BM) exhibited an efficiency of 7.26%, which is greater than that of CP5 (5.19%) and CP1 (3.11%) and is among the best-performing, cyanopyridone-based oligothiophene donors described to date.
Huo, J, Lu, L, Shen, Z, Gao, H & Liu, H 2021, 'Rational design of CoNi alloy and atomic Co/Ni composite as an efficient electrocatalyst', Surface Innovations, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 37-48.
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Highly efficient, non-precious and stable electrocatalysts for both oxygen (O2) reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have drawn attention as alternatives to noble-metal catalysts. The rational construction of dual-functional catalysts is meaningful because most nanomaterials can perform only a single electrocatalytic activity. Herein, nitrogen (N)-doped carbon (C) nanotubes encapsulating CoNi alloy (CoNi@NCNTs) nanoparticles coupled with a cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) dual atom hybrid are successfully designed and synthesized through a simple metal–organic-framework-assisted strategy, which are explored as a catalyst for ORR and OER. The optimized catalyst exhibits highly efficient bifunctional catalytic activity with a low voltage spacing of 0.78 V between an overpotential of 370 mV (at 10 mA/cm2) toward OER and a half-wave potential of 0.822 V toward ORR, as well as high durability. The excellent electrocatalytic performance should be attributed to the advantages of uniformly dispersed CoNi alloy nanoparticles, highly conductive nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes and the formation of metal–Nxspecies. This work provides a novel strategy for rationally designing bifunctional catalysts for reversible energy conversion.
Hurtado-McCormick, V, Kahlke, T, Petrou, K, Jeffries, T, Ralph, PJ & Seymour, JR 2021, 'Corrigendum: Regional and Microenvironmental Scale Characterization of the Zostera muelleri Seagrass Microbiome', Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12, p. 642964.
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[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01011.].
Hurtado-McCormick, V, Krix, D, Tschitschko, B, Siboni, N, Ralph, PJ & Seymour, JR 2021, 'Shifts in the seagrass leaf microbiome associated with wasting disease in', Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 72, no. 9, pp. 1303-1320.
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Seagrass wasting disease (SWD), an infection believed to be caused by Labyrinthula zosterae, has been linked to seagrass declines in several places around the world. However, there is uncertainty about the mechanisms of disease and the potential involvement of opportunistic colonising microorganisms. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we compared the microbiome of SWD lesions in leaves of Zostera muelleri with communities in adjacent asymptomatic tissues and healthy leaves. The microbiome of healthy leaf tissues was dominated by Pseudomonas and Burkholderia, whereas the most predominant taxa within adjacent tissues were Pseudomonas and Rubidimonas. Members of the Saprospiraceae, potential macroalgal pathogens, were over-represented within SWD lesions. These pronounced changes in microbiome structure were also apparent when we examined the core microbiome of different tissue types. Although the core microbiome associated with healthy leaves included three operational taxonomic units (OTUs) classified as Burkholderia, Cryomorphaceae and the SAR11 clade, a single core OTU from the Arenicella was found within adjacent tissues. Burkholderia are diazotrophic microorganisms and may play an important role in seagrass nitrogen acquisition. In contrast, some members of the Arenicella have been implicated in necrotic disease in other benthic animals. Moreover, microbiome structure was maintained across sites within healthy tissues, but not within SWD lesions or the tissues immediately adjacent to lesions. Predicted functional profiles revealed increased photoautotrophic functions in SWD tissues relative to healthy leaves, but no increase in pathogenicity or virulence. Notably, we demonstrated the presence of L. zosterae in SWD lesions by polymerase chain reaction, but only in one of the two sampled locations, which indicates that other microbiological factors may be involved in the initiation or development of SWD-like symptoms. This study suggests t...
Hussain, MS, Sharma, P, Dhanjal, DS, Khurana, N, Vyas, M, Sharma, N, Mehta, M, Tambuwala, MM, Satija, S, Sohal, SS, Oliver, BGG & Sharma, HS 2021, 'Nanotechnology based advanced therapeutic strategies for targeting interleukins in chronic respiratory diseases', Chemico-Biological Interactions, vol. 348, pp. 109637-109637.
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Both communicable and non-communicable chronic respiratory conditions have accorded for suffering of millions of people of all ages and stated to be leading cause of death, morbidity, economic and social pressures, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) worldwide. These illnesses impair patient's health and negatively impacts families and society, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) affect different organs of respiratory system, involving airways, parenchyma, and pulmonary vasculature. As the number of respiratory diseases are exponentially escalating but still the stakeholders are not paying attention towards its serious complications. Currently, the treatment being used primarily focusses only on alleviating symptoms of these illness rather delivering the therapeutic agent at target site for optimal care and/or prevention. Lately, extensive research is being conducted on airways and systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, airway, or parenchymal rehabilitation. From which macrophages, neutrophils, and T cells, as well as structural cells as fibroblasts, epithelial, endothelial, and smooth muscle cells have been found to be active participants that are involved in these chronic respiratory diseases. The pathogenesis of all these chronic respiratory diseases gets caused differently via mediators and proteins, including cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and oxidants. Presently, the target of prescription therapies is to reduce the inflammation of airways and relieve the airway contraction. In all studies, cytokines have been found to play an imperative role in fostering chronic airway inflammation and remodelling. Owing to the limitations of conventional treatments, the current review aims to summarize the current knowledge about the chronic respiratory disease and discuss further about the various conventional methods that can be used for treating this ailment. Additionally, it also highlights and...
Hwang, J, Strange, N, Phillips, MJA, Krause, AL, Heywood, A, Gamble, AB, Huston, WM & Tyndall, JDA 2021, 'Optimization of peptide-based inhibitors targeting the HtrA serine protease in Chlamydia: Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of pyridone-based and N-Capping group-modified analogues', European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 224, pp. 113692-113692.
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The obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is responsible for the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection and is the leading cause of preventable blindness, representing a major global health burden. While C. trachomatis infection is currently treatable with broad-spectrum antibiotics, there would be many benefits of a chlamydia-specific therapy. Previously, we have identified a small-molecule lead compound JO146 [Boc-Val-Pro-ValP(OPh)2] targeting the bacterial serine protease HtrA, which is essential in bacterial replication, virulence and survival, particularly under stress conditions. JO146 is highly efficacious in attenuating infectivity of both human (C. trachomatis) as well as koala (C. pecorum) species in vitro and in vivo, without host cell toxicity. Herein, we present our continuing efforts on optimizing JO146 by modifying the N-capping group as well as replacing the parent peptide structure with the 2-pyridone scaffold at P3/P2. The drug optimization process was guided by molecular modelling, enzyme and cell-based assays. Compound 18b from the pyridone series showed improved inhibitory activity against CtHtrA by 5-fold and selectivity over human neutrophil elastase (HNE) by 109-fold compared to JO146, indicating that 2-pyridone is a suitable bioisostere of the P3/P2 amide/proline for developing CtHtrA inhibitors. Most pyridone-based inhibitors showed superior anti-chlamydial potency to JO146 especially at lower doses (25 and 50 μM) in C. trachomatis and C. pecorum cell culture assays. Modifications of the N-capping group of the peptidyl inhibitors did not have much influence on the anti-chlamydial activities, providing opportunities for more versatile alterations and future optimization. In summary, we present 2-pyridone based analogues as a new generation of non-peptidic CtHtrA inhibitors, which hold better promise as anti-chlamydial drug candidates.
Hynen, AL, Lazenby, JJ, Savva, GM, McCaughey, LC, Turnbull, L, Nolan, LM & Whitchurch, CB 2021, 'Multiple holins contribute to extracellular DNA release in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms', Microbiology, vol. 167, no. 2.
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Bacterial biofilms are composed of aggregates of cells encased within a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). One key EPS component is extracellular DNA (eDNA), which acts as a ‘glue’, facilitating cell–cell and cell–substratum interactions. We have previously demonstrated that eDNA is produced in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms via explosive cell lysis. This phenomenon involves a subset of the bacterial population explosively lysing, due to peptidoglycan degradation by the endolysin Lys. Here we demonstrate that in P. aeruginosa three holins, AlpB, CidA and Hol, are involved in Lys-mediated eDNA release within both submerged (hydrated) and interstitial (actively expanding) biofilms, albeit to different extents, depending upon the type of biofilm and the stage of biofilm development. We also demonstrate that eDNA release events determine the sites at which cells begin to cluster to initiate microcolony formation during the early stages of submerged biofilm development. Furthermore, our results show that sustained release of eDNA is required for cell cluster consolidation and subsequent microcolony development in submerged biofilms. Overall, this study adds to our understanding of how eDNA release is controlled temporally and spatially within ...
Ibrahim, I, Seo, DH, Angeloski, A, McDonagh, A, Shon, HK & Tijing, LD 2021, '3D microflowers CuS/Sn2S3 heterostructure for highly efficient solar steam generation and water purification', Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 232, pp. 111377-111377.
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Solar-driven interfacial steam generation is a promising method to produce potable water using renewable energy and help solve global clean water scarcity problems. However, the design of photothermal materials (PTMs) with excellent light absorption that can localize heat at the air/water interface, and facilitate water vapor generation remains a key challenge for its practical implementation. In this work, we demonstrate the synthesis of heterostructure microflowers composed of vertically aligned CuS/Sn2S3 nanosheets (3D CSS-NS MF) using a single-step solvothermal method for solar steam generation application. The microflower structures and the abundant nanocavities between the vertically aligned nanosheets resulted in significant sunlight harvesting over the solar spectrum, excellent heat localization through trapping and re-absorbing the heat, and fast escape of water vapor. Under 1 sun (1 kW m-2) illumination, a high water evaporation rate of 1.42 kg m-2 h-1, corresponding to an efficiency of 82.93% was obtained. The 3D CSS-NS MF based solar evaporator exhibited remarkable salt ions rejection efficiency and good reusability over 10 cycles. Furthermore, efficient removal of organic dyes was observed in application geared towards wastewater treatment with a rejection ∼99.9%. Our work demonstrates the potential of using novel semiconductor-based nanocomposites as effective photothermal materials for high-performance solar steam generation in water desalination and wastewater treatment applications.
Ibrahim, I, Seo, DH, McDonagh, AM, Shon, HK & Tijing, L 2021, 'Semiconductor photothermal materials enabling efficient solar steam generation toward desalination and wastewater treatment', Desalination, vol. 500, pp. 114853-114853.
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© 2020 Elsevier B.V. Water scarcity issues around the world have renewed interest in the use of solar water evaporation as a means of providing fresh water. Advances in photothermal materials and thermal management, together with new interfacial system designs, have considerably improved the overall efficiency of solar steam generation (SSG) for desalination and wastewater treatment. Several classes of rationally-designed photothermal materials (PTMs) and nanostructures have enabled effective absorption of broad solar spectrum resulting in improved solar evaporation efficiency. Among several classes of PTMs, semiconductor-based PTMs have demonstrated great potential for SSG. In this review, we highlight the progress and prospects in SSG with emphasis on the use and evolution of advanced semiconductor materials for PTMs and their various designs and engineered architectures. Applications and future prospects for desalination and wastewater treatment are also discussed.
Impellizzeri, FM, Woodcock, S, Coutts, AJ, Fanchini, M, McCall, A & Vigotsky, AD 2021, 'What Role Do Chronic Workloads Play in the Acute to Chronic Workload Ratio? Time to Dismiss ACWR and Its Underlying Theory', Sports Medicine, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 581-592.
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Aim
The aim of this study was to examine the associations between the injury risk and the acute (AL) to chronic (CL) workload ratio (ACWR) by substituting the original CL with contrived values to assess the role of CL (i.e., the presence and implications of statistical artefacts).
Methods
Using previously published data, we generated a contrived ACWR by dividing the AL by fixed and randomly generated CLs, and we compared these results to real data. We also reproduced previously reported subgroup analyses, including dichotomising players' data above and below the median CL. Our analyses follow the same, previously published modelling approach.
Results
The analyses with original data showed effects compatible with higher injury risk for ACWR only (odd ratios, OR: 2.45, 95% CI 1.28-4.71). However, we observed similar effects by dividing AL by the 'contrived' fixed and randomly generated CLs: OR 1.95 (1.18-3.52) dividing by 1510 (average CL); and OR ranging from 1.16 to 2.07, using random CL 1.53 (mean). Random ACWRs reduced the variance relative to the original AL and further inflated the ORs (mean OR 1.89, from 1.42 to 2.70). ACWR causes artificial reclassification of players compared to AL alone. Finally, neither ACWR nor AL alone confer a meaningful predictive advantage to an intercept-only model, even within the training sample (c-statistic 0.574/0.544 vs. 0.5 in both ACWR/AL and intercept-only models, respectively).
Discussion
ACWR is a rescaling of the explanatory variable (AL, numerator), in turn magnifying its effect estimates and decreasing its variance despite conferring no predictive advantage. Other ratio-related transformations (e.g., reducing the variance of the explanatory variable and unjustified reclassifications) further inflate the OR of AL alone with injury risk. These results also disprove the etiological theory behind this ratio and its components. We suggest ACWR be dismissed as a framework and model, and...
Indigo, NL, Jolly, CJ, Kelly, E, Smith, J, Webb, JK & Phillips, BL 2021, 'Effects of learning and adaptation on population viability', Conservation Biology, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 1245-1255.
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AbstractCultural adaptation is one means by which conservationists may help populations adapt to threats. A learned behavior may protect an individual from a threat, and the behavior can be transmitted horizontally (within generations) and vertically (between generations), rapidly conferring population‐level protection. Although possible in theory, it remains unclear whether such manipulations work in a conservation setting; what conditions are required for them to work; and how they might affect the evolutionary process. We examined models in which a population can adapt through both genetic and cultural mechanisms. Our work was motivated by the invasion of highly toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina) across northern Australia and the resultant declines of endangered northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus), which attack and are fatally poisoned by the toxic toads. We examined whether a novel management strategy in which wild quolls are trained to avoid toads can reduce extinction probability. We used a simulation model tailored to quoll life history. Within simulations, individuals were trained and a continuous evolving trait determined innate tendency to attack toads. We applied this model in a population viability setting. The strategy reduced extinction probability only when heritability of innate aversion was low (<20%) and when trained mothers trained >70% of their young to avoid toads. When these conditions were met, genetic adaptation was slower, but rapid cultural adaptation kept the population extant while genetic adaptation was completed. To gain insight into the evolutionary dynamics (in which we saw a transitory peak in cultural adaptation over time), we also developed a simple analytical model of evolutionary dynamics. This model showed that the strength of natural selection declined as the cultural transmission rate increased and that adaptation procee...
Inomura, K, Masuda, T, Eichner, M, Rabouille, S, Zavřel, T, Červený, J, Vancová, M, Bernát, G, Armin, G, Claquin, P, Kotabová, E, Stephan, S, Suggett, DJ, Deutsch, C & Prášil, O 2021, 'Quantifying Cyanothece growth under DIC limitation', Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, vol. 19, pp. 6456-6464.
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The photoautotrophic, unicellular N2-fixer, Cyanothece, is a model organism that has been widely used to study photosynthesis regulation, the structure of photosystems, and the temporal segregation of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) fixation in light and dark phases of the diel cycle. Here, we present a simple quantitative model and experimental data that together, suggest external dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration as a major limiting factor for Cyanothece growth, due to its high C-storage requirement. Using experimental data from a parallel laboratory study as a basis, we show that after the onset of the light period, DIC was rapidly consumed by photosynthesis, leading to a sharp drop in the rate of photosynthesis and C accumulation. In N2-fixing cultures, high rates of photosynthesis in the morning enabled rapid conversion of DIC to intracellular C storage, hastening DIC consumption to levels that limited further uptake. The N2-fixing condition allows only a small fraction of fixed C for cellular growth since a large fraction was reserved in storage to fuel night-time N2 fixation. Our model provides a framework for resolving DIC limitation in aquatic ecosystem simulations, where DIC as a growth-limiting factor has rarely been considered, and importantly emphasizes the effect of intracellular C allocation on growth rate that varies depending on the growth environment.
Iranpour, H, Hosseini, SN, Hosseini Far, H, Zhand, S, Mohammadi Ghanbarlu, M, Shahsavarani, H, Bouzari, S & Shokrgozar, MA 2021, 'Self-assembling of chimeric mussel-inspired bio-adhesives originated from Mytilus californianus and Anabaena flos-aquae: A new approach to develop underwater adhesion', International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, vol. 110, pp. 102938-102938.
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Bio-adhesives play a pivotal role in a wide range of medical applications. However, there are some problems about their application in different pH values and low adhesion force under wet conditions. Here, we report new recombinant fusion protein achieved by mussel foot proteins (Mfps) of Mytilus Californianus and gas vesicle protein A (GvpA) of Anabaena flos-aquae by genetic engineering methods. Transmission electron microscopy verified that these chimeric proteins self-assembled into β-sheet rich fibres because of GvpA amyloid structure. Also, in comparison to other studies, their adhesion forces were significantly increased, especially in the alkaline environments based on Mfp-3 and Mfp-5, confirmed by the colloidal probe atomic force microscope. This study illustrates that copolymer of Mfp-5-GvpA:GvpA-Mfp-3 can be used as a sturdy underwater adhesive with tolerance to auto-oxidation, especially at basic conditions.
Islam, MR, Hasan, J, Islam, MR, Kouzani, AZ & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'Transient Performance Augmentation of DFIG Based Wind Farms by Nonlinear Control of Flux-Coupling-Type Superconducting Fault Current Limiter', IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1-5.
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Any fault related to grid is a matter of great concern for doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) based power system as DFIG's stator windings are connected to the grid directly. To augment the transient performance of the DFIGs, superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) is a certified device. To boost the performance of a flux-coupling-type SFCL (FC-SFCL) by ensuing the adaptive use of fault current limiting impedance based on fault severity, rather involving the full impedance unnecessarily, a nonlinear controller (NC) for FC-SFCL (NC-FC-SFCL) is presented in this paper. Reason behind choosing a straightforward NC for this work is to have simple implementation capability with the full flavor of a nonlinear controller. Effectiveness of the NC-FC-SFCL is compared with conventionally controlled FC-SFCL for various fault scenarios. Simulation results suggest that, NC-FC-SFCL can improve the overall fault ride through (FRT) capability which is verified both graphically and numerically. Additionally, this effective use of the fault current limiting impedance guarantees better transient sub-synchronous resonance (SSR) performance, and exhibits better total harmonic distortion responses.
Ismail, MH, Michie, KA, Goh, YF, Noorian, P, Kjelleberg, S, Duggin, IG, McDougald, D & Rice, SA 2021, 'The Repressor C Protein, Pf4r, Controls Superinfection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 by the Pf4 Filamentous Phage and Regulates Host Gene Expression', Viruses, vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 1614-1614.
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It has been shown that the filamentous phage, Pf4, plays an important role in biofilm development, stress tolerance, genetic variant formation and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. These behaviours are linked to the appearance of superinfective phage variants. Here, we have investigated the molecular mechanism of superinfection as well as how the Pf4 phage can control host gene expression to modulate host behaviours. Pf4 exists as a prophage in PAO1 and encodes a homologue of the P2 phage repressor C and was recently named Pf4r. Through a combination of molecular techniques, ChIPseq and transcriptomic analyses, we show a critical site in repressor C (Pf4r) where a mutation in the site, 788799A>G (Ser4Pro), causes Pf4r to lose its function as the immunity factor against reinfection by Pf4. X-ray crystal structure analysis shows that Pf4r forms symmetric homo-dimers homologous to the E.coli bacteriophage P2 RepC protein. A mutation, Pf4r*, associated with the superinfective Pf4r variant, found at the dimer interface, suggests dimer formation may be disrupted, which derepresses phage replication. This is supported by multi-angle light scattering (MALS) analysis, where the Pf4r* protein only forms monomers. The loss of dimerisation also explains the loss of Pf4r’s immunity function. Phenotypic assays showed that Pf4r increased LasB activity and was also associated with a slight increase in the percentage of morphotypic variants. ChIPseq and transcriptomic analyses suggest that Pf4r also likely functions as a transcriptional regulator for other host genes. Collectively, these data suggest the mechanism by which filamentous phages play such an important role in P. aeruginosa biofilm development.
Italiano, CJ, Pu, L, Violi, JP, Duggin, IG & Rodgers, KJ 2021, 'Cysteine biosynthesis contributes to β-methylamino-l-alanine tolerance in Escherichia coli', Research in Microbiology, vol. 172, no. 6, pp. 103852-103852.
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In contrast to mammalian cells, bacteria such as Escherichia coli have been shown to display tolerance towards the neurotoxin β-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) suggesting that these prokaryotes possess a way to metabolise BMAA or its products, resulting in their export, degradation, or detoxification. Single gene deletion mutants of E. coli K-12 with inactivated amino acid biosynthesis pathways were treated with 500 μg/ml BMAA and the resulting growth was monitored. Wild type E. coli and most of the gene deletion mutants displayed unaltered growth in the presence of BMAA over 12 h. Conversely, deletion of genes in the cysteine biosynthesis pathway, cysE, cysK or cysM resulted in a BMAA dose-dependent growth delay in minimal medium. Through further studies of the ΔcysE strain, we observed increased susceptibility to oxidative stress from H2O2 in minimal medium, and disruptions in glutathione levels and oxidation state. The cysteine biosynthesis pathway is therefore linked to the tolerance of BMAA and oxidative stress in E. coli, which potentially represents a mechanism of BMAA detoxification.
Iwasaki, K, Evenhuis, C, Tamburic, B, Kuzhiumparambil, U, O'Connor, W, Ralph, P & Szabó, M 2021, 'Improving light and CO2 availability to enhance the growth rate of the diatom, Chaetoceros muelleri', Algal Research, vol. 55, pp. 102234-102234.
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Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) are an important source of feed for juvenile animals in aquaculture hatcheries. Increasing the yield of feed cultures by optimizing illumination and inorganic carbon supply could significantly reduce operational costs for hatcheries. In this study, the growth dynamics and photosynthetic efficiency of the aquaculture-relevant diatom Chaetoceros muelleri were monitored and modelled under four different light and CO2 conditions. By increasing the availability of both light and CO2, a growth rate of 1.59 ± 0.12 (day−1) was achieved for C. muelleri, an increase of approximately 89% compared to 0.84 ± 0.08 (day−1) which was recorded in cultures under light limitation with no CO2 addition. The real-time monitoring and modelling of growth dynamics and photosynthesis rates in different light and CO2 conditions have demonstrated that light availability can be improved by minimizing the path length of light through the culture, and the importance of on-demand CO2 supply. The techniques and results outlined in this study could be used to potentially improve biomass production in hatcheries.
Jackman, JA, Yoon, BK, Mokrzecka, N, Kohli, GS, Valle‐González, ER, Zhu, X, Pumera, M, Rice, SA & Cho, N 2021, 'Graphene Oxide Mimics Biological Signaling Cue to Rescue Starving Bacteria', Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 31, no. 25, pp. 2102328-2102328.
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AbstractThere is extensive debate about how 2D nanomaterials such as graphene oxide (GO) affect bacteria. Various effects of GO are proposed, including bacterial growth inhibition or enhancement, killing, and no activity. Herein, we report that GO protects Staphylococcus aureus bacterial cells from death in starvation conditions with up to a 1000‐fold improvement in cell viability. Transcriptomic profiling reveals that bacterial cells in starvation conditions generally shut down metabolic activity, while only cells incubated with GO increase production of specific enzymes involved in the glyoxalase detoxification pathway along with repressed autolysis. The oxygen‐containing functional groups of GO resemble the molecular structure of methylglyoxal, which bacteria produce to adapt to nutrient imbalances and is detoxified by glyoxalase enzymes. The ability of GO to enable bacterial cell survival in starvation conditions and accompanying cellular responses support that bacterial cells perceive GO as a methylglyoxal‐mimicking nanomaterial cue to reshuffle cellular metabolism and defenses.
Jacobson, JL, Akkaya‐Hocagil, T, Ryan, LM, Dodge, NC, Richardson, GA, Olson, HC, Coles, CD, Day, NL, Cook, RJ & Jacobson, SW 2021, 'Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on cognitive and behavioral development: Findings from a hierarchical meta‐analysis of data from six prospective longitudinal U.S. cohorts', Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, vol. 45, no. 10, pp. 2040-2058.
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AbstractBackgroundCognitive and behavioral sequelae of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) continue to be prevalent in the United States and worldwide. Because these sequelae are also common in other neurodevelopmental disorders, researchers have attempted to identify a distinct neurobehavioral profile to facilitate the differential diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). We used an innovative, individual participant meta‐analytic technique to combine data from six large U.S. longitudinal cohorts to provide a more comprehensive and reliable characterization of the neurobehavioral deficits seen in FASD than can be obtained from smaller samples.MethodsMeta‐analyses were performed on data from 2236 participants to examine effects of PAE (measured as oz absolute alcohol/day (AA/day)) on IQ, four domains of cognition function (learning and memory, executive function, reading achievement, and math achievement), sustained attention, and behavior problems, after adjusting for potential confounders using propensity scores.ResultsThe effect sizes for IQ and the four domains of cognitive function were strikingly similar to one another and did not differ at school age, adolescence, or young adulthood. Effect sizes were smaller in the more middle‐class Seattle cohort and larger in the three cohorts that obtained more detailed and comprehensive assessments of AA/day. PAE effect sizes were somewhat weaker for parent‐ and teacher‐reported behavior problems and not significant for sustained attention. In a meta‐analysis of five aspects of executive function, the strongest effect was on set‐shifting.ConclusionsThe similarity in the effect sizes for the four domains of cognitive function suggests that PAE affe...
Jacquelot, N, Seillet, C, Wang, M, Pizzolla, A, Liao, Y, Hediyeh-zadeh, S, Grisaru-Tal, S, Louis, C, Huang, Q, Schreuder, J, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, F, de Graaf, CA, Thia, K, Macdonald, S, Camilleri, M, Luong, K, Zhang, S, Chopin, M, Molden-Hauer, T, Nutt, SL, Umansky, V, Ciric, B, Groom, JR, Foster, PS, Hansbro, PM, McKenzie, ANJ, Gray, DHD, Behren, A, Cebon, J, Vivier, E, Wicks, IP, Trapani, JA, Munitz, A, Davis, MJ, Shi, W, Neeson, PJ & Belz, GT 2021, 'Blockade of the co-inhibitory molecule PD-1 unleashes ILC2-dependent antitumor immunity in melanoma', Nature Immunology, vol. 22, no. 7, pp. 851-864.
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Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are essential to maintain tissue homeostasis. In cancer, ILC2s can harbor both pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic functions, but we know little about their underlying mechanisms or whether they could be clinically relevant or targeted to improve patient outcomes. Here, we found that high ILC2 infiltration in human melanoma was associated with a good clinical prognosis. ILC2s are critical producers of the cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, which coordinates the recruitment and activation of eosinophils to enhance antitumor responses. Tumor-infiltrating ILC2s expressed programmed cell death protein-1, which limited their intratumoral accumulation, proliferation and antitumor effector functions. This inhibition could be overcome in vivo by combining interleukin-33-driven ILC2 activation with programmed cell death protein-1 blockade to significantly increase antitumor responses. Together, our results identified ILC2s as a critical immune cell type involved in melanoma immunity and revealed a potential synergistic approach to harness ILC2 function for antitumor immunotherapies.
Jahan, S, Biswas, SP, Haq, S, Islam, MR, Mahmud, MAP & Kouzani, A 2021, 'An Advanced Control Scheme for Voltage Source Inverter Based Grid-Tied PV Systems', IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1-5.
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Nowadays, the use of superconductive magnetic energy storage (SMES) devices in grid integration are highly escalated with the technological amelioration of magnetic components. The power quality and energy conversion efficiency of the power conditioning system of the SMES and renewable energy systems depend on the control algorithms of the voltage source inverter (VSI). However, the traditional control schemes cause inferior response and conversion efficiency. In this paper, an advanced control technique named PI+LLC controller is proposed, which is based on the proportional integral (PI) controller and lead-lag compensator (LLC). The proposed control technique offers significant reduction in the total harmonic distortion (THD), superior dynamic response, smooth response against fault, excellent reference tracking capability of grid current and improved power quality performance at both inverter side and grid side for a 5-level neutral point clamped inverter based grid-tied photovoltaic system. It is expected that, the proposed control scheme can also be used to mitigate the excessive heat of the VSI based SMES system by improving the performance of the power conditioning system. The performance of the proposed control technique is evaluated in MATLAB/Simulink environment to validate the excellent features of the proposed control scheme.
Jain, SK, Low, MX, Vashishtha, P, Nirantar, S, Zhu, L, Ton‐That, C, Ahmed, T, Sriram, S, Walia, S, Gupta, G & Bhaskaran, M 2021, 'Influence of Temperature on Photodetection Properties of Honeycomb‐like GaN Nanostructures', Advanced Materials Interfaces, vol. 8, no. 14, pp. 2100593-2100593.
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AbstractBroadband photodetectors operable under harsh temperature conditions are crucial optoelectronic components to support ongoing and futuristic technological advancement. Conventional photodetectors are limited to room temperature operation due to the thermal instability of semiconductors under harsh conditions and incapable of covering the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum due to narrow bandgap properties. Gallium nitride (GaN) is a wide bandgap and thermally stable semiconductor, ideal for addressing the abovementioned limitations. Here, epitaxial honeycomb nanostructured GaN film is grown via a plasma‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy system and deployed for stable broadband photodetectors, which can be operated from −75 to 250 °C. Further, spectral response is investigated for a broad spectrum from UV (280 nm) to near‐infrared (850 nm) region. It displays a peak responsivity at 365 nm associated to the bandgap energy of GaN. Fabricated photodetectors with honeycomb‐like nanostructures drive peak responsivity and external quantum efficiency of 2.41 × 106 AW−1 and 8.18 × 108%, respectively, when illuminated at a power density of 1 mWcm−2 and 365 nm wavelength source under 1 V bias. Temperature‐correlated spectral response presents a quenching of responsivity at higher temperatures in visible spectrum associated with the thermal quenching of defect states. The thermally stable and efficient broadband photodetector based on honeycomb‐like nanostructured GaN is promising for the combustion industry, arctic science, and space explorations.
Jamil, R, Ali, R, Loomba, S, Xian, J, Yousaf, M, Khan, K, Shabbir, B, McConville, CF, Mahmood, A & Mahmood, N 2021, 'The role of nitrogen in transition-metal nitrides in electrochemical water splitting', Chem Catalysis, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 802-854.
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H2 as a storable fuel can be sustainably generated from direct cleavage of water with a catalytic approach. However, H2 generation is severely affected by poor catalytic activities and the instability of catalyst materials. Recently, transition-metal-based nitrides (TMNs) have been widely explored because of their intrinsic abilities to catalyze water splitting, wide pH stability, high corrosion resistance, and potential for structural modulations. Most investigations have focused on the design of advanced heterostructures for improving catalytic activity. However, identification of the active sites and decoding the inherent mechanisms are often neglected. Here, we investigate the fundamental aspects of H2 production to elucidate the cutting-edge progress of TMNs. First, we explore the engineering of the active sites of ordered and disordered structures and the relation with hydrogen evolution reaction activity. Second, we explain the development of advanced oxygen evolution reaction catalysts by focusing on minimizing autoxidation. Third and finally, we discuss complementary strategies for converting unifunctional TMNs to bifunctional catalysts for overall water splitting.
Jarman, LR, Elliott, JL, Lees, T, Clifton-Bligh, R, Simpson, AM, Nassif, N & Lal, S 2021, 'Heart Rate Variability as a Potential Non-invasive Marker of Blood Glucose Level', Human Physiology, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 209-218.
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Abstract: Currently, monitoring of blood glucose level (BGL) is constrained by the invasive nature of BGL measures. We investigated heart rate variability (HRV) parameters as potential non-invasive markers of BGL. Healthy volunteers (n = 25; aged 27 ± 9 years) uninhibited by regular medications or chronic illness were recruited for this study. BGL and HRV were assessed during fasting (9:00 am), postprandial (12:00 pm), and postabsorptive (3:00 pm) periods using self-monitoring of blood glucose techniques and ten-minute electrocardiogram, respectively. Frequency-domain HRV measures, which estimate contributions of sympathetic and parasympathetic systems to autonomic modulation of the heart, were correlated against BGL data with the following significant (p < 0.05) findings. The change in BGL from fasting to postprandial levels was negatively correlated with fasting low frequency (LF) power and total power (TP). Postprandial BGL was negatively associated with fasting LF and TP, as well as with postprandial LF, high frequency (HF), and TP. The change in BGL from postprandial to postabsorptive levels was positively correlated with fasting LF power, as well as with postprandial LF, HF, and TP. Frequency-domain HRV parameters may be useful in predicting the magnitude and direction of acute fluctuations in BGL, and further research could develop them as non-invasive markers of BGL.
Jarocki, VM, Heß, S, Anantanawat, K, Berendonk, TU & Djordjevic, SP 2021, 'Multidrug-Resistant Lineage of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli ST182 With Serotype O169:H41 in Airline Waste', Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12, p. 731050.
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Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the primary aetiologic agent of traveller’s diarrhoea and a significant cause of diarrhoeal disease and death in developing countries. ETEC O169:H41 strains are known to cause both traveller’s diarrhoea and foodborne outbreaks in developed countries and are cause for concern. Here, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to assemble 46 O169:H41 (ST182) E. coli draft genomes derived from two airplane waste samples sourced from a German international airport. The ST182 genomes were compared with all 84 publicly available, geographically diverse ST182 genomes to construct a core genome-based phylogenetic tree. ST182 isolates were all phylogroup E, the majority serotype O169:H41 (n = 121, 93%) and formed five major clades. The airplane waste isolates differed by an average of 15 core SNPs (range 0–45) but their accessory genome content was diverse. While uncommon in other ST182 genomes, all airplane-derived ST182 isolates carried: (i) extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene blaCTX–M–15 notably lacking the typical adjacent ISEcp1; (ii) qnrS1 and the S83L mutation in gyrA, both conferring resistance to fluoroquinolones; and (iii) a class 1 integron structure (IS26-intI1Δ648-dfrA17-aadA5-qacEΔ1-sul1-ORF-srpC-padR-IS6100-mphR-mrx-mphA-IS26) identified previously in major extrain...
Jaumaux, P, Wu, J, Shanmukaraj, D, Wang, Y, Zhou, D, Sun, B, Kang, F, Li, B, Armand, M & Wang, G 2021, 'Non‐Flammable Liquid and Quasi‐Solid Electrolytes toward Highly‐Safe Alkali Metal‐Based Batteries', Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 31, no. 10, pp. 2008644-2008644.
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AbstractRechargeable alkali metal (i.e., lithium, sodium, potassium)‐based batteries are considered as vital energy storage technologies in modern society. However, the traditional liquid electrolytes applied in alkali metal‐based batteries mainly consist of thermally unstable salts and highly flammable organic solvents, which trigger numerous accidents related to fire, explosion, and leakage of toxic chemicals. Therefore, exploring non‐flammable electrolytes is of paramount importance for achieving safe batteries. Although replacing traditional liquid electrolytes with all‐solid‐state electrolytes is the ultimate way to solve the above safety issues, developing non‐flammable liquid electrolytes can more directly fulfill the current needs considering the low ionic conductivities and inferior interfacial properties of existing all‐solid‐state electrolytes. Moreover, the electrolyte leakage concern can be further resolved by gelling non‐flammable liquid electrolytes to obtain quasi‐solid electrolytes. Herein, a comprehensive review of the latest progress in emerging non‐flammable liquid electrolytes, including non‐flammable organic liquid electrolytes, aqueous electrolytes, and deep eutectic solvent‐based electrolytes is provided, and systematically introduce their flame‐retardant mechanisms and electrochemical behaviors in alkali metal‐based batteries. Then, the gelation techniques for preparing quasi‐solid electrolytes are also summarized. Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives are presented. It is anticipated that this review will promote a safety improvement of alkali metal‐based batteries.
Jerotić, Đ, Matić, M & McClements, L 2021, 'The importance of polymorphisms of regulatory and catalytic antioxidant proteins in chronic kidney disease', Medicinski podmladak, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 25-33.
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Both excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and impaired antioxidant function are found in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, individual susceptibility towards CKD can be induced by functional variations of genes encoding antioxidant regulatory (nuclear factor erythroid 2 - related factor 2 (Nrf2)) and catalytic (superoxide dismutase (SOD2) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX1)) proteins. Several types of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been found within the genes encoding these proteins, with Nrf2 (-617C/A), SOD2 (Ala16Val) and GPX1 (Pro198Leu) conferring impaired catalytic activity. The most unexplored gene polymorphism in CKD susceptibility, progression and survival, with only two original studies published, is the Nrf2 (-617C/A) polymorphism. The results of these studies showed that there was no individual impact of this polymorphism on the susceptibility towards end stage renal disease (ESRD) development, oxidative phenotype and mortality. However, Nrf2 had a significant role in ESRD risk and survival, when combined with other antioxidant genes. The results regarding the impact of SOD2 (Ala16Val) and GPX1 (Pro198Leu) polymorphisms on either CKD or ESRD are still inconclusive. Namely, some studies showed that patients having variant SOD2 (Val) or GPX1 (Leu) allele were at increased risk of CKD development and progression, while other studies reported only weak or no association between these polymorphisms and CKD. Surprisingly, the only study that reported an association of GPX1 polymorphism with overall/cardiovascular survival in ESRD patients showed a significant impact of low activity GPX1 (Leu/Leu) genotype on better survival. In this review, we comprehensively and critically appraise the literature on these polymorphisms related to oxidative stress in CKD patients, in order to identify gaps and provide recommendations for further clinical research and translation. New developments in the field ...
Jerotic, D, Suvakov, S, Matic, M, Alqudah, A, Grieve, DJ, Pljesa-Ercegovac, M, Savic-Radojevic, A, Damjanovic, T, Dimkovic, N, McClements, L & Simic, T 2021, 'GSTM1 Modulates Expression of Endothelial Adhesion Molecules in Uremic Milieu', Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, vol. 2021, no. 1, pp. 1-12.
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Deletion polymorphism of glutathione S‐transferase M1 (GSTM1), a phase II detoxification and antioxidant enzyme, increases susceptibility to end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) as well as the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among ESRD patients and leads to their shorter cardiovascular survival. The mechanisms by which GSTM1 downregulation contributes to oxidative stress and inflammation in endothelial cells in uremic conditions have not been investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to elucidate the effects of GSTM1 knockdown on oxidative stress and expression of a panel of inflammatory markers in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to uremic serum. Additionally, we aimed to discern whether GSTM1-null genotype is associated with serum levels of adhesion molecules in ESRD patients. HUVECs treated with uremic serum exhibited impaired redox balance characterized by enhanced lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities, independently of the GSTM1 knockdown. In response to uremic injury, HUVECs exhibited alteration in the expression of a series of inflammatory cytokines including retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP4), regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), C‐reactive protein (CRP), angiogenin, dickkopf‐1 (Dkk‐1), and platelet factor 4 (PF4). GSTM1 knockdown in HUVECs showed upregulation of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), a cytokine involved in the regulation of monocyte migration and adhesion. These cells also have shown upregulated intracellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules (ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1). In accordance with these findings, the levels of serum ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 (sICAM‐1 and sVCAM‐1) were increased in ESRD patients lacking GSTM1, in comparison with patients with the GSTM1-active genotype. Based on these results, it may be concluded that incubation of endothelial cells in uremic...
Jiang, Q, Zeng, H, Liu, X, Yan, J, Li, A & Zhou, J 2021, 'Superhydrophobic surface of glass powder derived from wet milling with aliphatic chemicals modification', Ceramics International, vol. 47, no. 20, pp. 29091-29098.
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Glass frit has emerged recently as a promising material for incorporation in adhesive of electronic components owing to its high sealing density, environmental stability and easy processing. This requires the glass surface to be hydrophobic to ensure high dispersity, grinding uniformity, and high-temperature sintering performance of the glass frit. However, the glass surface is usually hydrophilic. In this work, we developed a wet milling method to effectively produce hydrophobic glass powder by using aliphatic chemicals modification. We employed a series of aliphatic chemicals containing nucleophilic functional groups to prepare ultrafine lead aluminosilicate electronic glass powders. The nucleophilic substitution reaction of amino groups, carboxylic acid groups, hydroxyl groups and phosphoric acid groups reduces the hydroxyl content on the surface of the glass powder to 0.10 mg/m2, and generates steric hindrance and hydrophobicity (contact angle: 153.0°) through the long carbon chain. The obtained powder therefore shows a uniform particle size distribution, anti-agglomerated property, and maximum 25 °C lower hemispheric point temperature compared to powder prepared by conventional hydrophilic milling method. This work provides a versatile method to simultaneously control the structural and surface properties of glass powders at their formation stage.
Jiang, Z, Liu, S, Cui, L, He, J, Fang, Y, Premarathne, C, Li, L, Wu, Y, Huang, X & Kumar, M 2021, 'Sand Supplementation to Eutrophic Sediments Improves the Growth and Survival of Seagrass Thalassia Hemprichii: Implication for Seagrass Restoration and Management'.
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Abstract Aims Sediment composition is highly crucial for seagrass growth and survival. Eutrophication has been suggested a major cause of seagrass decline globally. We investigated the effects of beach sand supplementation to natural sediments under eutrophic condition on the growth and survival of tropical dominant seagrass Thalassia hemprichii. Methods We cultured seagrass T. hemprichii under the controlled laboratory conditions in three sediment types by combining different ratio of in-situ eutrophic sediment and coarse beach sand. We examined the effect of beach sand mixing to natural eutrophic sediments on the growth of seagrass using photobiology, metabolomics and isotope labeling approaches. Results Seagrass grown in eutrophic sediments mixed with sand exhibited significantly higher photosynthetic activity with high relative maximum electron transport rate and minimum saturating irradiance. Simultaneously, considerably greater belowground amino acid and flavonoid concentrations were observed to counteract anoxic stress in eutrophic sediment without mixing sand. This led to more positive belowground stable sulfur isotope in the eutrophic sediment with lower Eh. Conclusions These results indicated coarse beach sand indirectly enhanced photosynthesis and growth for T. hemprichii by reducing sulfide intrusion with lower concentrations of amino acid and flavonoid. This could possibly explain why T. hemprichii often grow better in the coarse sand substrate. Therefore, it is imperative to consider adding sand soil in the sediments to improve the growth condition for seagrass and restoring the seagrass shoots du...
Jin, D, Liu, Y, Lv, S, Qi, Q, Li, M, Wang, Y, Wang, X & Wu, H 2021, 'Electroacupuncture and Moxibustion Modulate the BDNF and TrkB Expression in the Colon and Dorsal Root Ganglia of IBS Rats with Visceral Hypersensitivity', Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2021, pp. 1-10.
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Objective. To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture and moxibustion on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) protein and mRNA expressions in the colon and dorsal root ganglia of IBS rats with visceral hypersensitivity and to explore their underlying therapeutic mechanisms. Method. Forty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal, model, model + mild moxibustion (MM), model + electroacupuncture (EA), and model + pinaverium bromide (PB) groups, with eight rats in each group. Chronic visceral hypersensitive IBS rat models were established by colorectal distension (CRD) with mustard oil clyster. Rats in the MM and EA groups, respectively, received moxibustion and electroacupuncture treatments on the Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37) acupoints once daily for 7 days, and rats in the PB group received pinaverium bromide by oral gavage once daily for 7 consecutive days. After treatment, rats underwent abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scoring under CRD and colon histopathological examination. Immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to study the protein and mRNA expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the rat colon and dorsal root ganglia. Results. Compared with the normal group, AWR scores and body weight were clearly increased in the model group rats (both ). The body weights were significantly elevated ( , ...
Johansen, MD, Alcaraz, M, Dedrick, RM, Roquet-Banères, F, Hamela, C, Hatfull, GF & Kremer, L 2021, 'Mycobacteriophage–antibiotic therapy promotes enhanced clearance of drug-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus', Disease Models & Mechanisms, vol. 14, no. 9.
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ABSTRACT Infection by multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus is increasingly prevalent in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, leaving clinicians with few therapeutic options. A compassionate study showed the clinical improvement of a CF patient with a disseminated M. abscessus (GD01) infection, following injection of a phage cocktail, including phage Muddy. Broadening the use of phage therapy in patients as a potential antibacterial alternative necessitates the development of biological models to improve the reliability and successful prediction of phage therapy in the clinic. Herein, we demonstrate that Muddy very efficiently lyses GD01 in vitro, an effect substantially increased with standard drugs. Remarkably, this cooperative activity was retained in an M. abscessus model of infection in CFTR-depleted zebrafish, associated with a striking increase in larval survival and reduction in pathological signs. The activity of Muddy was lost in macrophage-ablated larvae, suggesting that successful phage therapy relies on functional innate immunity. CFTR-depleted zebrafish represent a practical model to rapidly assess phage treatment efficacy against M. abscessus isolates, allowing the identification of drug combinations accompanying phage therapy and treatment prediction in patients. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Johansen, MD, Shalini, Kumar, S, Raynaud, C, Quan, DH, Britton, WJ, Hansbro, PM, Kumar, V & Kremer, L 2021, 'Biological and Biochemical Evaluation of Isatin-Isoniazid Hybrids as Bactericidal Candidates against Mycobacterium tuberculosis', Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, vol. 65, no. 8.
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Tuberculosis remains a leading cause of mortality among infectious diseases worldwide, prompting the need to discover new drugs to fight this disease. We report here the design, synthesis, and antimycobacterial activity of isatin-mono/bis-isoniazid hybrids.
Johnson, L, Vekariya, S, Wood, B, Costa, M, Waters, L, Green, S & Marks, DC 2021, 'The in vitro quality of X‐irradiated platelet components in PAS‐E is equivalent to gamma‐irradiated components', Transfusion, vol. 61, no. 11, pp. 3075-3080.
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AbstractBackgroundBlood components are irradiated to inactivate lymphocytes in an effort to prevent transfusion‐associated graft versus host disease. Although gamma irradiators are commonly used, they are subjected to rigorous health, safety, and compliance regulations, compared with X‐irradiators which have the advantage of only emitting radiation while the machine is switched on. While the effects of gamma irradiation on platelet components are well known, there is little or no data comparing the effects of X‐ and gamma‐irradiation on the quality of these components. Therefore, this study examined the in vitro quality of platelet components (pooled and apheresis) following X‐ or gamma‐irradiation.Study design and methodsWhole‐blood‐derived (pooled) and apheresis platelet components in platelet additive solution (n = 20 pairs for each type) were irradiated (X vs. gamma). In vitro platelet quality was tested prior to irradiation (day 1) and subsequently on days 2, 5, and 7. Non‐irradiated components were tested on day 5 in parallel as reference controls. Metabolic parameters, surface expression of glycoproteins and activation markers (CD62P and annexin‐V binding), and agonist‐induced aggregation were measured.ResultsAll components met Council of Europe specifications. There were no statistical differences in any in vitro quality measurements between X‐ and gamma‐irradiated pooled or apheresis platelet components.ConclusionX‐ and gamma‐irradiation have similar effects on the in vitro quality of stored blood components, indicating that either technology represents a suitable option for irradiation of platelet components.
Johnson, L, Vekariya, S, Wood, B, Tan, S, Roan, C & Marks, DC 2021, 'Refrigeration of apheresis platelets in platelet additive solution (PAS‐E) supports in vitro platelet quality to maximize the shelf‐life', Transfusion, vol. 61, no. S1, pp. S58-S67.
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AbstractBackgroundRefrigeration, or cold‐storage, of platelets may be beneficial to extend the limited shelf‐life of conventionally stored platelets and support transfusion protocols in rural and military areas. The aim of this study was to compare the morphologic, metabolic, and functional aspects of apheresis platelets stored at room‐temperature (RT) or cold conditions, in either plasma or supplemented with platelet additive solution (PAS).Study design and methodsDouble‐dose apheresis platelets were collected in either 100% plasma or 40% plasma/60% PAS‐E using the Trima apheresis platform. One component from each group was either stored at RT (20–24°C) or refrigerated (2–6°C). Platelets were tested over a 21‐day period.ResultsThe platelet concentration decreased by approximately 30% in all groups during 21 days of storage (p > .05). Cold‐storage reduced glycolytic metabolism, and the pH was maintained above the minimum specification (>6.4) for 21 days only when platelets were stored in PAS. The surface phenotype and the composition of the supernatant were differentially affected by temperature and storage solution. Functional responses (aggregation, agonist‐induced receptor activation, clotting time) were improved during cold‐storage, and the influence of residual plasma was assay dependent.ConclusionIn vitro platelet quality is differentially affected by storage time, temperature, and solution. Cold‐storage, particularly in PAS, better maintains key metabolic, phenotypic, and functional parameters during prolonged storage.
Johnson, N, Maguire, S, Morra, A, Kapoor, PM, Tomczyk, K, Jones, ME, Schoemaker, MJ, Gilham, C, Bolla, MK, Wang, Q, Dennis, J, Ahearn, TU, Andrulis, IL, Anton-Culver, H, Antonenkova, NN, Arndt, V, Aronson, KJ, Augustinsson, A, Baynes, C, Freeman, LEB, Beckmann, MW, Benitez, J, Bermisheva, M, Blomqvist, C, Boeckx, B, Bogdanova, NV, Bojesen, SE, Brauch, H, Brenner, H, Burwinkel, B, Campa, D, Canzian, F, Castelao, JE, Chanock, SJ, Chenevix-Trench, G, Clarke, CL, Conroy, DM, Couch, FJ, Cox, A, Cross, SS, Czene, K, Dörk, T, Eliassen, AH, Engel, C, Evans, DG, Fasching, PA, Figueroa, J, Floris, G, Flyger, H, Gago-Dominguez, M, Gapstur, SM, García-Closas, M, Gaudet, MM, Giles, GG, Goldberg, MS, González-Neira, A, Guénel, P, Hahnen, E, Haiman, CA, Håkansson, N, Hall, P, Hamann, U, Harrington, PA, Hart, SN, Hooning, MJ, Hopper, JL, Howell, A, Hunter, DJ, Jager, A, Jakubowska, A, John, EM, Kaaks, R, Keeman, R, Khusnutdinova, E, Kitahara, CM, Kosma, V-M, Koutros, S, Kraft, P, Kristensen, VN, Kurian, AW, Lambrechts, D, Le Marchand, L, Linet, M, Lubiński, J, Mannermaa, A, Manoukian, S, Margolin, S, Martens, JWM, Mavroudis, D, Mayes, R, Meindl, A, Milne, RL, Neuhausen, SL, Nevanlinna, H, Newman, WG, Nielsen, SF, Nordestgaard, BG, Obi, N, Olshan, AF, Olson, JE, Olsson, H, Orban, E, Park-Simon, T-W, Peterlongo, P, Plaseska-Karanfilska, D, Pylkäs, K, Rennert, G, Rennert, HS, Ruddy, KJ, Saloustros, E, Sandler, DP, Sawyer, EJ, Schmutzler, RK, Scott, C, Shu, X-O, Simard, J, Smichkoska, S, Sohn, C, Southey, MC, Spinelli, JJ, Stone, J, Tamimi, RM, Taylor, JA, Tollenaar, RAEM, Tomlinson, I, Troester, MA, Truong, T, Vachon, CM, van Veen, EM, Wang, SS, Weinberg, CR, Wendt, C, Wildiers, H, Winqvist, R, Wolk, A, Zheng, W, Ziogas, A, Dunning, AM, Pharoah, PDP, Easton, DF, Howie, AF, Peto, J, dos-Santos-Silva, I, Swerdlow, AJ, Chang-Claude, J, Schmidt, MK, Orr, N & Fletcher, O 2021, 'CYP3A7*1C allele: linking premenopausal oestrone and progesterone levels with risk of hormone receptor-positive breast cancers', British Journal of Cancer, vol. 124, no. 4, pp. 842-854.
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Abstract Background Epidemiological studies provide strong evidence for a role of endogenous sex hormones in the aetiology of breast cancer. The aim of this analysis was to identify genetic variants that are associated with urinary sex-hormone levels and breast cancer risk. Methods We carried out a genome-wide association study of urinary oestrone-3-glucuronide and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide levels in 560 premenopausal women, with additional analysis of progesterone levels in 298 premenopausal women. To test for the association with breast cancer risk, we carried out follow-up genotyping in 90,916 cases and 89,893 controls from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium. All women were of European ancestry. Results For pregnanediol-3-glucuronide, there were no genome-wide significant associations; for oestrone-3-glucuronide, we identified a single peak mapping to the CYP3A locus, annotated by rs45446698. The minor rs45446698-C allele was associated with lower oestrone-3-glucuronide (−49.2%, 95% CI −56.1% to −41.1%, P = 3.1 × 10–18); in follow-up analyses, rs45446698-C was also associated with lower progesterone (−26.7%, 95% CI −39.4% to −11.6%, P = 0.001) and reduced risk of oestrogen and progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer (OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.82–0.91, P = 6.9 × 10–8). Conclusions The CYP3A7*1C allele is associated with reduced risk of hormone recept...
Johnston, NP & Wallman, JF 2021, 'A new species of carrion-breeding “golden blowfly” from south-eastern Australia (Diptera: Calliphoridae)', Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, vol. 145, no. 2, pp. 143-151.
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The adults and third instar larva of Calliphora pryori sp. nov., a new species of Calliphora Robineau-Desvoidy endemic to south-eastern Australia, are described for the first time. This species breeds in carrion and is very closely allied to C. hilli, with which it is found sympatrically. However, it is less frequently encountered and has only been recorded from southern parts of both South Australia and Victoria. The evolutionary affinities of C. pryori with other members of the C. hilli group are discussed.
JOHNSTON, NP, WALLMAN, JF, SZPILA, K & PAPE, T 2021, 'Integrative taxonomy reveals remarkable diversity in Australian Protomiltogramma (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)', Zootaxa, vol. 5043, no. 1, pp. 1-104.
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Protomiltogramma Townsend is the largest and most diverse genus of miltogrammine flesh flies in Australia. However, no comprehensive taxonomic work had been completed on the Australian members of this genus in almost a century. This study presents the first taxonomic revision of all Australian species of Protomiltogramma (Sarcophagidae: Miltogramminae), completed using an integrative approach combining molecular and morphological data. Eight new species endemic to Australia are described: P. dalbiensis sp. n., P. grandis sp. n., P. incana sp. n., P. kapnos sp. n., P. nigrisensa sp. n., P. popularis sp. n., P. rubra sp. n. and P. subtilis sp. n. In addition, P. australis Malloch, 1930 is synonymised with P. cincta Townsend, 1916, syn. n. and P. mallochi Verves, 1987 is synonymised with P. laticeps Malloch, 1930, syn. n. Molecular phylogenetics is used to place the Australian Protomiltogramma among the miltogrammine genera of the world.
Jolly, CJ, Smart, AS, Moreen, J, Webb, JK, Gillespie, GR & Phillips, BL 2021, 'Novel Predators can Elicit Rapid Shifts in Prey Demographics and Behavior', The Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, vol. 102, no. 4.
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Jolly, CJ, Smart, AS, Moreen, J, Webb, JK, Gillespie, GR & Phillips, BL 2021, 'Trophic cascade driven by behavioral fine‐tuning as naïve prey rapidly adjust to a novel predator', Ecology, vol. 102, no. 7, pp. 1-11.
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AbstractThe arrival of novel predators can trigger trophic cascades driven by shifts in prey numbers. Predators also elicit behavioral change in prey populations, via phenotypic plasticity and/or rapid evolution, and such changes may also contribute to trophic cascades. Here, we document rapid demographic and behavioral changes in populations of a prey species (grassland melomys Melomys burtoni, a granivorous rodent) following the introduction of a novel marsupial predator (northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus). Within months of quolls appearing, populations of melomys exhibited reduced survival and population declines relative to control populations. Quoll‐invaded populations were also significantly shyer than nearby, quoll‐free populations of conspecifics. This rapid but generalized response to a novel threat was replaced over the following 2 yr with more threat‐specific antipredator behaviors (i.e., predator‐scent aversion). Predator‐exposed populations, however, remained more neophobic than predator‐free populations throughout the study. These behavioral responses manifested rapidly in changed rates of seed predation by melomys across treatments. Quoll‐invaded melomys populations exhibited lower per‐capita seed take rates, and rapidly developed an avoidance of seeds associated with quoll scent, with discrimination playing out over a spatial scale of tens of meters. Presumably the significant and novel predation pressure induced by quolls drove melomys populations to fine‐tune behavioral responses to be more predator specific through time. These behavioral shifts could reflect individual plasticity (phenotypic flexibility) in behavior or may be adaptive shifts from natural selection imposed by quoll predation. Our study provides a rare insight into the rapid ecological and behavioral shifts enacted by prey to mitigate the impacts of a novel predator and shows that tr...
Jolly, CJ, Von Takach, B & Webb, JK 2021, 'Slow life history leaves endangered snake vulnerable to illegal collecting', Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 5380.
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AbstractGlobal wildlife trade is a multibillion-dollar industry and a significant driver of vertebrate extinction risk. Yet, few studies have quantified the impact of wild harvesting for the illicit pet trade on populations. Long-lived species, by virtue of their slow life history characteristics, may be unable to sustain even low levels of collecting. Here, we assessed the impact of illegal collecting on populations of endangered broad-headed snakes (Hoplocephalus bungaroides) at gated (protected) and ungated (unprotected) sites. Because broad-headed snakes are long-lived, grow slowly and reproduce infrequently, populations are likely vulnerable to increases in adult mortality. Long-term data revealed that annual survival rates of snakes were significantly lower in the ungated population than the gated population, consistent with the hypothesis of human removal of snakes for the pet trade. Population viability analysis showed that the ungated population has a strongly negative population growth rate and is only prevented from ultimate extinction by dispersal of small numbers of individuals from the gated population. Sensitivity analyses showed that the removal of a small number of adult females was sufficient to impose negative population growth and suggests that threatened species with slow life histories are likely to be especially vulnerable to illegal collecting.
Joshi, RV, Gunawan, C & Mann, R 2021, 'We Are One: Multispecies Metabolism of a Biofilm Consortium and Their Treatment Strategies', Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12, p. 635432.
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The ecological and medical significance of bacterial biofilms have been well recognized. Biofilms are harder to control than their planktonic free-living counterparts and quite recently, the focus of the study has shifted to the multispecies consortia, which represent the vast majority of real-case infection scenarios. Studies have begun to explore the complex interspecies interactions within these biofilms. However, only little attention is currently given to the role of cellular metabolites in the cell-to-cell communication. The concentration gradients of metabolic substrates and products affect the spatial growth of bacteria in multispecies biofilm. This, if looked into more deeply, can lead to identification of potential therapies targeting the specific metabolites and hence the coordinated protection in the bacterial community. Herein, we review the interspecies communications, including their metabolic cross-talking, in multispecies biofilm, to signify the importance of such interactions on the initial formation and subsequent growth of these biofilms. Multispecies biofilms with their species heterogeneity are more resilient to antimicrobial agents than their single species biofilm counterparts and this characteristic is of particular interest when dealing with pathogenic bacteria. In this Review, we also discuss the treatment options available, to include current and emerging avenues to combat pathogenic multispecies biofilms in the clinical, environmental, as well as industrial settings.
Jun, MY, Karki, R, Paudel, KR, Panth, N, Devkota, HP & Kim, D-W 2021, 'Liensinine Prevents Vascular Inflammation by Attenuating Inflammatory Mediators and Modulating VSMC Function', Applied Sciences, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 386-386.
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Liensinine is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid found in various parts of the lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) including seeds. In this study, we explored the preventive activity of liensinine on vascular inflammation via attenuation of inflammatory mediators in macrophage and targeting the proliferation and migration of human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Anti-oxidative activity was evaluated by using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay method and measuring the peroxidation of serum lipid. Inflammatory markers were studied by evaluating the release of nitric oxide (NO) and the protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in macrophage cells (RAW264.7) and interleukin (IL)-6 production in VSMC. Similarly, anti-proliferative activity in VSMC was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in VSMC was evaluated by gelatin zymography. Liensinine possesses significant anti-oxidative activity as revealed by the DPPH assay and inhibition of serum lipid peroxidation. Likewise, liensinine decreased NO generation in RAW 264.7 cells. In VSMC, liensinine suppressed platelet-derived growth factor stimulated proliferation and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced MMP-9 enzymatic activity as well as IL-6 expression. Our results revealed the potential preventive effect of liensinine on vascular inflammation, suggesting it as a promising compound for the prevention of vascular inflammation.
Kang, H, Walsh, S, Oliver, B, Royce, T & Cho, BJ 2021, 'Exploring Heart Rate Variability as a Biomedical Diagnostic Tool for the Disympathetic Dimension of Eight-Constitution Medicine', Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2021, pp. 1-13.
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Background. Eight-Constitution Medicine (ECM), an extension of Traditional Korean Medicine, divides the population into eight groups based on their physiological characteristics. ECM divides these eight groups into two larger groups based on autonomic reactivity: the Sympathicotonic group and the Vagotonic group (herein referred to as the Disympathetic Dimension). Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a widely used biomedical tool to assess cardiac autonomic function. This raises the question of the utility of using HRV to correctly diagnose ECM constitutions. Methods. A systematic literature review was conducted to evaluate the correlation between HRV and constitutions in Korean Constitutional Medicine, including Eight-Constitution Medicine (ECM) and Sasang Constitution Medicine (SCM). The articles were obtained from both English (Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, ProQuest, and Medline) and Korean databases (NDSL and RISS), in addition to Google Scholar, without date restriction. 20 studies met the inclusion criteria, and data were extracted against three aspects: (1) correlation between HRV and constitution, (2) HRV reporting and interpretation, and (3) extraneous factors that were controlled in the studies. Results. 386 articles were initially identified, which was reduced to n = 20 studies which met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 19 were SCM studies and 1 was an ECM study. Sample sizes varied from 10 to 8498 men and women, with an age range of 10–80 years. SCM studies explored HRV differences by constitution, measuring HRV at resting, with controlled breathing, before and after acupuncture stimulation, and by other interventions. SCM studies reported either no significant differences (HRV at resting or with controlled breathing studies) or conflicting data (HRV with acupuncture stimulation studies). The single ECM study measured HRV at resting and after acupuncture stimulation but reported no significant differences between the two groups of Sympathicoto...
Kanodarwala, FK, Leśniewski, A, Olszowska-Łoś, I, Spindler, X, Pieta, IS, Lennard, C, Niedziółka-Jönsson, J, Moret, S & Roux, C 2021, 'Fingermark detection using upconverting nanoparticles and comparison with cyanoacrylate fuming', Forensic Science International, vol. 326, pp. 110915-110915.
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This paper reports the synthesis of high-quality upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) - sodium yttrium tetrafluoride doped with ytterbium and erbium (NaYF4:Yb,Er) with a silica shell and capped with phenyl functional groups. The main goal of this research was to design tailor-made UCNPs for fingermark detection, to test and validate a nanoparticle-based detection technique and to compare their performance against a benchmark method to assess potential implementation in routine practice by law enforcement agencies. The water-based UCNPs solution was applied to natural fingermarks on a number of substrates. This is the first ever systematic comparative study between UCNPs and a benchmark fingermark detection technique - cyanoacrylate fuming (CAF) followed by luminescent dye staining. Fingermark detection effectiveness was studied by treating 300 latent fingermark specimens on aluminium foil, polyethylene, polypropylene and glass slides. It was concluded that, on average, CAF performed better across the substrates tested. Nevertheless, UCNPs can be advantageous for fingermark detection on multicoloured, patterned or luminescent substrates due to their unique optical properties. There are, however, shortfalls associated with their synthesis and use that need to be addressed before they can be considered for operational purposes.
Kanodarwala, FK, Moret, S, Spindler, X, Lennard, C & Roux, C 2021, 'Novel upconverting nanoparticles for fingermark detection', Optical Materials, vol. 111, pp. 110568-110568.
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© 2020 This paper reports the synthesis of high-quality upconverter nanoparticles (UCNPs) – sodium yttrium tetrafluoride doped with ytterbium and erbium (NaYF4:Yb,Er) with a silica shell and capped with carboxyl functional groups. The effect of different synthesis methods on the silica capping has been studied in detail. The main goal of this research was to design tailor-made UCNPs for fingermark detection and to validate a NP-based detection technique that is user-friendly, cost-effective and can be implemented in routine practice by law enforcement agencies. UCNP powders and solutions were used as a proof-of-concept to detect latent fingermarks on an aluminium foil substrate. This study not only highlights the potential use of UCNPs as a fingermark detection method but also identifies a number of shortfalls in its application that need to be addressed before such an approach could be implemented as a valid detection technique.
Kar, R, Jha, SK, Ojha, S, Sharma, A, Dholpuria, S, Raju, VSR, Prasher, P, Chellappan, DK, Gupta, G, Kumar Singh, S, Paudel, KR, Hansbro, PM, Kumar Singh, S, Ruokolainen, J, Kesari, KK, Dua, K & Jha, NK 2021, 'The FBXW7‐NOTCH interactome: A ubiquitin proteasomal system‐induced crosstalk modulating oncogenic transformation in human tissues', Cancer Reports, vol. 4, no. 4.
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AbstractBackgroundUbiquitin ligases or E3 ligases are well programmed to regulate molecular interactions that operate at a post‐translational level. Skp, Cullin, F‐box containing complex (or SCF complex) is a multidomain E3 ligase known to mediate the degradation of a wide range of proteins through the proteasomal pathway. The three‐dimensional domain architecture of SCF family proteins suggests that it operates through a novel and adaptable “super‐enzymatic” process that might respond to targeted therapeutic modalities in cancer.Recent findingsSeveral F‐box containing proteins have been characterized either as tumor suppressors (FBXW8, FBXL3, FBXW8, FBXL3, FBXO1, FBXO4, and FBXO18) or as oncogenes (FBXO5, FBXO9, and SKP2). Besides, F‐box members like βTrcP1 and βTrcP2, the ones with context‐dependent functionality, have also been studied and reported. FBXW7 is a well‐studied F‐box protein and is a tumor suppressor. FBXW7 regulates the activity of a range of substrates, such as c‐Myc, cyclin E, mTOR, c‐Jun, NOTCH, myeloid cell leukemia sequence‐1 (MCL1), AURKA, NOTCH through the well‐known ubiquitin‐proteasome system (UPS)‐mediated degradation pathway. NOTCH signaling is a primitive pathway that plays a crucial role in maintaining normal tissue homeostasis. FBXW7 regulates NOTCH protein activity by controlling its half‐life, thereby maintaining optimum protein levels in tissue. However, aberrations in the FBXW7 or NOTCH expression levels can lead to poor prognosis and detrimental outcomes in patients. Therefore, the FBXW7‐NOTCH axis has been a subject of intense study and research over the years, especially around the interactome's role in driving cancer development and progression. Several studies have reported the effect of FBXW7 and NOTCH mutations on normal tissue behavior. The current review attempts to critically analy...
Karacan, I, Cox, N, Dowd, A, Vago, R, Milthorpe, B, Cazalbou, S & Ben-Nissan, B 2021, 'The synthesis of hydroxyapatite from artificially grown Red Sea hydrozoan coral for antimicrobacterial drug delivery system applications', Journal of the Australian Ceramic Society, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 399-407.
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The hydrozoan Millepora dichotoma (MD) is a typical Red Sea species containing a porous skeleton in the form of aragonite crystalline calcium carbonate. Due to environmental considerations, the artificial production of coralline species under controlled conditions is pertinent and underway. Artificially grown MD was used as a raw material for the production of calcium phosphate, mainly hydroxyapatite bioceramics, to be used in the drug delivery systems as a drug carrier or in the tissue engineering such as bone graft. DTA-TGA, XRD, FT-IR, Raman, and SEM analysis were carried out to analyze both unconverted and converted artificial corals. Hydrothermally converted coral fine powders were loaded with gentamicin (Gm) antibiotic, and the drug-loaded particles were analyzed by SEM. Unconverted coral was mainly aragonite, while hydrothermally treated coral was completely converted to hydroxyapatite. Hydrothermally treated coral was showing agglomerated nodules up to 1-μm size consisting of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite platelets in the size range of less than 100 nm. The general macropore size of the coral was found to be appropriate for osteoid growth, which is 100 to 600 μm range. These artificially grown corals can be easily produced and used for bone growth and repair and other biomedical applications.
Karunia, J, Niaz, A, Mandwie, M, Thomas Broome, S, Keay, KA, Waschek, JA, Al-Badri, G & Castorina, A 2021, 'PACAP and VIP Modulate LPS-Induced Microglial Activation and Trigger Distinct Phenotypic Changes in Murine BV2 Microglial Cells', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 22, no. 20, pp. 10947-10947.
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Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) are two structurally related immunosuppressive peptides. However, the underlying mechanisms through which these peptides regulate microglial activity are not fully understood. Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce an inflammatory challenge, we tested whether PACAP or VIP differentially affected microglial activation, morphology and cell migration. We found that both peptides attenuated LPS-induced expression of the microglial activation markers Iba1 and iNOS (### p < 0.001), as well as the pro-inflammatory mediators IL-1β, IL-6, Itgam and CD68 (### p < 0.001). In contrast, treatment with PACAP or VIP exerted distinct effects on microglial morphology and migration. PACAP reversed LPS-induced soma enlargement and increased the percentage of small-sized, rounded cells (54.09% vs. 12.05% in LPS-treated cells), whereas VIP promoted a phenotypic shift towards cell subpopulations with mid-sized, spindle-shaped somata (48.41% vs. 31.36% in LPS-treated cells). Additionally, PACAP was more efficient than VIP in restoring LPS-induced impairment of cell migration and the expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in BV2 cells compared with VIP. These results suggest that whilst both PACAP and VIP exert similar immunosuppressive effects in activated BV2 microglia, each peptide triggers distinctive shifts towards phenotypes of differing morphologies and with differing migration capacities.
Katsnelson, A 2021, 'A Conversation with Maiken Ueland', ACS Central Science, vol. 7, no. 9, pp. 1451-1453.
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Kaur, J, Famta, P, Famta, M, Mehta, M, Satija, S, Sharma, N, Vyas, M, Khatik, GL, Chellappan, DK, Dua, K & Khurana, N 2021, 'Potential anti-epileptic phytoconstituents: An updated review', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 268, pp. 113565-113565.
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ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:Epilepsy is one of the most commonly occurring non-communicable neurological disorder that affects people of all age groups. Around 50 million people globally are epileptic, with 80% cases in developing countries due to lack of access to treatments determined by high cost and poor availability or it can be defined by the fraction of active epileptic patients who are not appropriately being treated. The availability of antiepileptic drugs and their adjuvant therapy in such countries is less than 50% and these are highly susceptible to drug interactions and severe adverse effects. As a result, the use of herbal medicine is increasingly becoming popular. AIM OF THE STUDY:To provide pharmacological information on the active constituents evaluated in the preclinical study to treat epilepsy with potential to be used as an alternative therapeutic option in future. It also provides affirmation for the development of novel antiepileptic drugs derived from medicinal plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Relevant information on the antiepileptic potential of phytoconstituents in the preclinical study (in-vitro, in-vivo) is provided based on their effect on screening parameters. Besides, relevant information on pharmacology of phytoconstituents, the traditional use of their medicinal plants related to epilepsy and status of phytoconstituents in the clinical study were derived from online databases, including PubMed, Clinicaltrial.gov, The Plant List (TPL, www.theplantlist.org), Science Direct. Articles identified using preset searching syntax and inclusion criteria are presented. RESULTS:More than 70% of the phytoconstituents reviewed in this paper justified the traditional use of their medicinal plant related to epilepsy by primarily acting on the GABAergic system. Amongst the phytoconstituents, only cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol have been explored for clinical application in epilepsy. CONCLUSION:The preclinical and clinical data of t...
Keen, B, Cawley, A, Fouracre, C, Pyke, J & Fu, S 2021, 'Towards an untargeted mass spectrometric approach for improved screening in equine antidoping', Drug Testing and Analysis, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 1001-1007.
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AbstractThe emergence of novel doping agents is a continuous issue for analysts who aim to maintain the integrity of horseracing together with the well‐being and safety of the animals and riders involved. Untargeted mass spectrometric analysis presents a potential improvement for antidoping as it enables the detection of compounds being indirectly affected by an administered drug. In this study, liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry was used to investigate a 12‐horse administration study of the synthetic opioid, butorphanol. A mass spectrometric workflow capable of detecting metabolic differences for an extended period of time was successfully developed. This proof‐of‐concept study demonstrates the potential of untargeted workflows to provide a list of biomarkers of exposure and effect that are indicative of drug administration which may be implemented into routine testing for improved doping control.
Kelly, E, Jolly, CJ, Indigo, N, Smart, A, Webb, J & Phillips, B 2021, 'No outbreeding depression in a trial of targeted gene flow in an endangered Australian marsupial', Conservation Genetics, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 23-33.
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© 2020, Springer Nature B.V. Targeted gene flow is a novel conservation strategy that involves translocating individuals with favourable genes to areas where they will have a conservation benefit. One oft-cited risk of the strategy is the potential for outbreeding depression. Here, we used the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) as a model to test this possibility for the first time in a field setting. Northern quolls are endangered by the spread of the invasive cane toad (Rhinella marina), which they are fatally poisoned by, if they mistakenly attempt to consume them. There are, however, a small number of quolls that are “toad-smart”—they possess a heritable trait that means they innately do not attack toads. It is this trait we hoped to promote through targeted gene flow. We established a hybrid population (54 toad-smart and toad-naïve northern quolls) and introduced this population onto a small offshore, toad-infested island in 2017. Genetic data suggests an increase in the toad-smart proportion of the genome increasing from 29.4% in the release population to 40.2% in the first island generation (F2). Our data demonstrate successful in situ hybridisation between populations, with viable F2 hybrids and backcrosses observed, and some evidence of heterosis (hybrid vigour) in F1 hybrids. The population experienced significant reductions in size over the two years, however, through a combination of toad-mortality, as well as stochastic processes including fire, a cyclone, predation and ineffective breeding, and so small sample sizes hamper our results. Such establishment problems would not occur were we to attempt targeted gene flow into already established quoll populations, and our observation of successful hybridisation suggests targeted gene flow could be a viable strategy in established quoll populations soon to be impacted by toads.
Kendig, MD, Leigh, S-J & Morris, MJ 2021, 'Unravelling the impacts of western-style diets on brain, gut microbiota and cognition', Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 128, pp. 233-243.
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Kendig, MD, Martire, SI, Boakes, RA & Rooney, KB 2021, 'Comparable metabolic effects of isocaloric sucrose and glucose solutions in rats', Physiology & Behavior, vol. 229, pp. 113239-113239.
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Ketelaar, ME, Portelli, MA, Dijk, FN, Shrine, N, Faiz, A, Vermeulen, CJ, Xu, CJ, Hankinson, J, Bhaker, S, Henry, AP, Billington, CK, Shaw, DE, Johnson, SR, Benest, AV, Pang, V, Bates, DO, Pogson, ZEK, Fogarty, A, McKeever, TM, Singapuri, A, Heaney, LG, Mansur, AH, Chaudhuri, R, Thomson, NC, Holloway, JW, Lockett, GA, Howarth, PH, Niven, R, Simpson, A, Tobin, MD, Hall, IP, Wain, LV, Blakey, JD, Brightling, CE, Obeidat, M, Sin, DD, Nickle, DC, Bossé, Y, Vonk, JM, van den Berge, M, Koppelman, GH, Sayers, I & Nawijn, MC 2021, 'Phenotypic and functional translation of IL33 genetics in asthma', Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 147, no. 1, pp. 144-157.
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BACKGROUND:Asthma is a complex disease with multiple phenotypes that may differ in disease pathobiology and treatment response. IL33 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reproducibly associated with asthma. IL33 levels are elevated in sputum and bronchial biopsies of patients with asthma. The functional consequences of IL33 asthma SNPs remain unknown. OBJECTIVE:This study sought to determine whether IL33 SNPs associate with asthma-related phenotypes and with IL33 expression in lung or bronchial epithelium. This study investigated the effect of increased IL33 expression on human bronchial epithelial cell (HBEC) function. METHODS:Association between IL33 SNPs (Chr9: 5,815,786-6,657,983) and asthma phenotypes (Lifelines/DAG [Dutch Asthma GWAS]/GASP [Genetics of Asthma Severity & Phenotypes] cohorts) and between SNPs and expression (lung tissue, bronchial brushes, HBECs) was done using regression modeling. Lentiviral overexpression was used to study IL33 effects on HBECs. RESULTS:We found that 161 SNPs spanning the IL33 region associated with 1 or more asthma phenotypes after correction for multiple testing. We report a main independent signal tagged by rs992969 associating with blood eosinophil levels, asthma, and eosinophilic asthma. A second, independent signal tagged by rs4008366 presented modest association with eosinophilic asthma. Neither signal associated with FEV1, FEV1/forced vital capacity, atopy, and age of asthma onset. The 2 IL33 signals are expression quantitative loci in bronchial brushes and cultured HBECs, but not in lung tissue. IL33 overexpression in vitro resulted in reduced viability and reactive oxygen species-capturing of HBECs, without influencing epithelial cell count, metabolic activity, or barrier function. CONCLUSIONS:We identify IL33 as an epithelial susceptibility gene for eosinophilia and asthma, provide mechanistic insight, and implicate targeting of the IL33 pathway specifically in eosinophilic asthma.
Khan, M, Willcox, MDP, Rice, SA, Sharma, S & Stapleton, F 2021, 'Development of antibiotic resistance in the ocular Pseudomonas aeruginosa clone ST308 over twenty years', Experimental Eye Research, vol. 205, pp. 108504-108504.
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Corneal infection caused by a bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa is common cause of ocular morbidity. Increasing antibiotic resistance by ocular P. aeruginosa is an emerging concern. In this study the resistome of ocular isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa clone ST308 isolated in India in 1997 (PA31, PA32, PA33, PA35 and PA37) and 2018 (PA198 and PA219) were investigated. All the isolates of ST308 had >95% nucleotide similarity. The isolates from 2018 had larger genomes, coding sequences, accessory and pan genes compared to the older isolates from 1997. The 2018 isolate PA219 was resistant to all antibiotics except polymyxin B, while the 2018 isolate PA198 was resistant to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gentamicin and tobramycin. Among the isolates from 1997, five were resistant to gentamicin, tobramycin and ciprofloxacin, four were resistant to levofloxacin while two were resistant to polymyxin B. Twenty-four acquired resistance genes were present in the 2018 isolates compared to 11 in the historical isolates. All isolates contained genes encoding for aminoglycoside (aph(6)-Id, aph(3')-lIb, aph(3″)-Ib), beta-lactam (blaPAO), tetracycline (tet(G)), fosfomycin (fosA), chloramphenicol (catB7), sulphonamide (sul1), quaternary ammonium (qacEdelta1) and fluoroquinolone (crpP) resistance. Isolate PA198 possessed aph(3')-VI, rmtD2, qnrVC1, blaOXA-488, blaPME-1, while PA219 possessed aadA1, rmtB, qnrVC1, aac(6')-Ib-cr, blaTEM-1B, blaVIM-2, blaPAO-1, mph(E), mph(A), msr(E). In both recent isolates qnrVC1 was present in Tn3 transposon. In 219 blaTEM-1 was carried on a transposon and blaOXA-10 on a class 1 integron. There were no notable differences in the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms, but recent isolates carried more insertions and deletions in their genes. These findings suggest that genomes of P. aeruginosa ocular clonal strains with >95% nucleotide identity isolated twenty years apart had changed over time with the acquisition of resistance genes. The p...
Khantisitthiporn, O, Shue, B, Eyre, NS, Nash, CW, Turnbull, L, Whitchurch, CB, Van der Hoek, KH, Helbig, KJ & Beard, MR 2021, 'Viperin interacts with PEX19 to mediate peroxisomal augmentation of the innate antiviral response', Life Science Alliance, vol. 4, no. 7, pp. e202000915-e202000915.
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Peroxisomes are recognized as significant platforms for the activation of antiviral innate immunity where stimulation of the key adapter molecule mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) within the RIG-I like receptor (RLR) pathway culminates in the up-regulation of hundreds of ISGs, some of which drive augmentation of multiple innate sensing pathways. However, whether ISGs can augment peroxisome-driven RLR signaling is currently unknown. Using a proteomics-based screening approach, we identified Pex19 as a binding partner of the ISG viperin. Viperin colocalized with numerous peroxisomal proteins and its interaction with Pex19 was in close association with lipid droplets, another emerging innate signaling platform. Augmentation of the RLR pathway by viperin was lost when Pex19 expression was reduced. Expression of organelle-specific MAVS demonstrated that viperin requires both mitochondria and peroxisome MAVS for optimal induction of IFN-β. These results suggest that viperin is required to enhance the antiviral cellular response with a possible role to position the peroxisome at the mitochondrial/MAM MAVS signaling synapse, furthering our understanding of the importance of multiple organelles driving the innate immune response against viral infection.
Kihara, S, Ashenden, A, Kaur, M, Glasson, J, Ghosh, S, van der Heijden, N, Brooks, AES, Mata, JP, Holt, S, Domigan, LJ, Köper, I & McGillivray, DJ 2021, 'Cellular interactions with polystyrene nanoplastics—The role of particle size and protein corona', Biointerphases, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 041001-041001.
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Plastic waste is ubiquitously spread across the world and its smaller analogs—microplastics and nanoplastics—raise particular health concerns. While biological impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics have been actively studied, the chemical and biological bases for the adverse effects are sought after. This work explores contributory factors by combining results from in vitro and model mammalian membrane experimentation to assess the outcome of cell/nanoplastic interactions in molecular detail, inspecting the individual contribution of nanoplastics and different types of protein coronae. The in vitro study showed mild cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics, with no clear trend based on nanoplastic size (20 and 200 nm) or surface charge. In contrast, a nanoplastic size-dependency on bilayer disruption was observed in the model system. This suggests that membrane disruption resulting from direct interaction with PS nanoplastics has little correlation with cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the level of bilayer disruption was found to be limited to the hydrophilic headgroup, indicating that transmembrane diffusion was an unlikely pathway for cellular uptake—endocytosis is the viable mechanism. In rare cases, small PS nanoplastics (20 nm) were found in the vicinity of chromosomes without a nuclear membrane surrounding them; however, this was not observed for larger PS nanoplastics (200 nm). We hypothesize that the nanoplastics can interact with chromosomes prior to nuclear membrane formation. Overall, precoating PS particles with protein coronae reduced the cytotoxicity, irrespective of the corona type. When comparing the two types, the extent of reduction was more apparent with soft than hard corona.
Kim, RY, Glick, C, Furmanek, S, Ramirez, JA & Cavallazzi, R 2021, 'Association between body mass index and mortality in hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia', ERJ Open Research, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 00736-2020.
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The obesity paradox postulates that increased body mass index (BMI) is protective in certain patient populations. We aimed to investigate the association of BMI and different weight classes with outcomes in hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).This cohort study is a secondary data analysis of the University of Louisville Pneumonia Study database, a prospective study of hospitalised adult patients with CAP from June, 2014, to May, 2016, in Louisville, KY, USA. BMI as a predictor was assessed both as a continuous and categorical variable. Patients were categorised as weight classes based on World Health Organization definitions: BMI of <18.5 kg·m−2(underweight), BMI of 18.5 to <25 kg·m−2(normal weight), BMI of 25.0 to <30 kg·m−2(overweight), BMI of 30 to <35 kg·m−2(obesity class I), BMI of 35 to <40 kg·m−2(obesity class II), and BMI of ≥40 kg·m−2(obesity class III). Study outcomes, including time to clinical stability, length of stay, clinical failure and mortality, were assessed in hospital, at 30 days, at 6 months and at 1 year. Clinical failure was defined as the need for noninvasive ventilation, invasive ventilation or vasopressors within 1 week of admission. Patient characteristics and crude outcomes were stratified by BMI categories, and generalised additive binomial regression models were performed to analyse the impact of BMI as a continuous variable on study outcomes adjusting for possible confounding variables.7449 patients were included in the study. Median time to clinical stability was 2 days for every BMI group. There was no association between BMI as a continuous predictor and length of stay <5 days (chi-squared=1.83, estimated degrees of freedom (EDF)=2.74, p=0.608). Clinical failure was highest in the class III obesity group, and h...
Kim, RY, Sunkara, KP, Bracke, KR, Jarnicki, AG, Donovan, C, Hsu, AC, Ieni, A, Beckett, EL, Galvão, I, Wijnant, S, Ricciardolo, FLM, Di Stefano, A, Haw, TJ, Liu, G, Ferguson, AL, Palendira, U, Wark, PA, Conickx, G, Mestdagh, P, Brusselle, GG, Caramori, G, Foster, PS, Horvat, JC & Hansbro, PM 2021, 'A microRNA-21–mediated SATB1/S100A9/NF-κB axis promotes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease pathogenesis', Science Translational Medicine, vol. 13, no. 621, p. eaav7223.
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Inhibition of cigarette smoke–induced microRNA-21 suppresses chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through effects on a SATB1/S100A9/NF-κB axis.
Kim, T-H, Alraek, T, Bian, Z-X, Birch, S, Bovey, M, Lee, J, Lee, MS, Robinson, N & Zaslawski, C 2021, 'Clinical reasoning in traditional medicine exemplified by the clinical encounter of Korean medicine', Integrative Medicine Research, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 100641-100641.
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King, WL, Kaestli, M, Siboni, N, Padovan, A, Christian, K, Mills, D, Seymour, J & Gibb, K 2021, 'Pearl Oyster Bacterial Community Structure Is Governed by Location and Tissue-Type, but Vibrio Species Are Shared Among Oyster Tissues', Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12, pp. 1-11.
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Diseases of bivalves of aquacultural importance, including the valuable Australian silver-lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima), have been increasing in frequency and severity. The bivalve microbiome is linked to health and disease dynamics, particularly in oysters, with putative pathogens within the Vibrio genus commonly implicated in oyster diseases. Previous studies have been biased toward the Pacific oyster because of its global dominance in oyster aquaculture, while much less is known about the microbiome of P. maxima. We sought to address this knowledge gap by characterizing the P. maxima bacterial community, and we hypothesized that bacterial community composition, and specifically the occurrence of Vibrio, will vary according to the sampled microenvironment. We also predicted that the inside shell swab bacterial composition could represent a source of microbial spillover biofilm into the solid pearl oyster tissues, thus providing a useful predictive sampling environment. We found that there was significant heterogeneity in bacterial composition between different pearl oyster tissues, which is consistent with patterns reported in other bivalve species and supports the hypothesis that each tissue type represents a unique microenvironment for bacterial colonization. We suggest that, based on the strong effect of tissue-type on the pearl oyster bacterial community, future studies should apply caution when attempting to compare microbial patterns from different locations, and when searching for disease agents. The lack of association with water at each farm also supported the unique nature of the microbial communities in oyster tissues. In contrast to the whole bacterial community, there was no significant difference in the Vibrio community among tissue types nor location. These resu...
Kiran, MR, Farrok, O, Islam, MR, Zhu, J, Kouzani, AZ & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'The High Frequency Magnetic-Link With Distributed HTS YBCO Windings for Power Converter Applications', IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1-5.
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Klingberg, J, Cawley, A, Shimmon, R, Fouracre, C, Pasin, D & Fu, S 2021, 'Finding the proverbial needle: Non‐targeted screening of synthetic opioids in equine plasma', Drug Testing and Analysis, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 977-989.
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AbstractSynthetic opioids are a class of compounds that are of particular concern due to their high potency and potential health impacts. With the relentless emergence of new synthetic opioid derivatives, non‐targeted screening strategies are required that do not rely on the use of library spectra or reference materials. In this study, product ion searching, and Kendrick mass defect analysis were investigated for non‐targeted screening of synthetic opioids. The estimated screening cut‐offs for these techniques ranged between 0.05 and 0.1 ng/mL. These techniques were designed to not be reliant on a particular vendor's software, meaning that they can be applied to existing drug screening protocols, without requiring the development and validation of new analytical procedures. The efficacy of the developed techniques was tested through blind trials, with spiked samples inserted amongst authentic plasma samples, which demonstrated the usefulness of these methods for high‐throughput screening. The use of a non‐targeted screening workflow that contains complementary techniques can increase the likelihood of detecting compounds of interest within a sample, as well as the confidence in detections that are made.
Klionsky, DJ, Abdel-Aziz, AK, Abdelfatah, S, Abdellatif, M, Abdoli, A, Abel, S, Abeliovich, H, Abildgaard, MH, Abudu, YP, Acevedo-Arozena, A, Adamopoulos, IE, Adeli, K, Adolph, TE, Adornetto, A, Aflaki, E, Agam, G, Agarwal, A, Aggarwal, BB, Agnello, M, Agostinis, P, Agrewala, JN, Agrotis, A, Aguilar, PV, Ahmad, ST, Ahmed, ZM, Ahumada-Castro, U, Aits, S, Aizawa, S, Akkoc, Y, Akoumianaki, T, Akpinar, HA, Al-Abd, AM, Al-Akra, L, Al-Gharaibeh, A, Alaoui-Jamali, MA, Alberti, S, Alcocer-Gómez, E, Alessandri, C, Ali, M, Alim Al-Bari, MA, Aliwaini, S, Alizadeh, J, Almacellas, E, Almasan, A, Alonso, A, Alonso, GD, Altan-Bonnet, N, Altieri, DC, Álvarez, ÉMC, Alves, S, Alves da Costa, C, Alzaharna, MM, Amadio, M, Amantini, C, Amaral, C, Ambrosio, S, Amer, AO, Ammanathan, V, An, Z, Andersen, SU, Andrabi, SA, Andrade-Silva, M, Andres, AM, Angelini, S, Ann, D, Anozie, UC, Ansari, MY, Antas, P, Antebi, A, Antón, Z, Anwar, T, Apetoh, L, Apostolova, N, Araki, T, Araki, Y, Arasaki, K, Araújo, WL, Araya, J, Arden, C, Arévalo, M-A, Arguelles, S, Arias, E, Arikkath, J, Arimoto, H, Ariosa, AR, Armstrong-James, D, Arnauné-Pelloquin, L, Aroca, A, Arroyo, DS, Arsov, I, Artero, R, Asaro, DML, Aschner, M, Ashrafizadeh, M, Ashur-Fabian, O, Atanasov, AG, Au, AK, Auberger, P, Auner, HW, Aurelian, L, Autelli, R, Avagliano, L, Ávalos, Y, Aveic, S, Aveleira, CA, Avin-Wittenberg, T, Aydin, Y, Ayton, S, Ayyadevara, S, Azzopardi, M, Baba, M, Backer, JM, Backues, SK, Bae, D-H, Bae, O-N, Bae, SH, Baehrecke, EH, Baek, A, Baek, S-H, Baek, SH, Bagetta, G, Bagniewska-Zadworna, A, Bai, H, Bai, J, Bai, X, Bai, Y, Bairagi, N, Baksi, S, Balbi, T, Baldari, CT, Balduini, W, Ballabio, A, Ballester, M, Balazadeh, S, Balzan, R, Bandopadhyay, R, Banerjee, S, Banerjee, S, Bánréti, Á, Bao, Y, Baptista, MS, Baracca, A, Barbati, C, Bargiela, A, Barilà, D, Barlow, PG, Barmada, SJ, Barreiro, E, Barreto, GE, Bartek, J, Bartel, B, Bartolome, A, Barve, GR, Basagoudanavar, SH, Bassham, DC, Bast, RC, Basu, A, Batoko, H, Batten, I, Baulieu, EE, Baumgarner, BL, Bayry, J, Beale, R, Beau, I, Beaumatin, F, Bechara, LRG, Beck, GR, Beers, MF, Begun, J, Behrends, C, Behrens, GMN, Bei, R, Bejarano, E, Bel, S, Behl, C, Belaid, A, Belgareh-Touzé, N, Bellarosa, C, Belleudi, F, Belló Pérez, M, Bello-Morales, R, Beltran, JSDO, Beltran, S, Benbrook, DM, Bendorius, M, Benitez, BA, Benito-Cuesta, I & et al. 2021, 'Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1', Autophagy, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 1-382.
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Klont, F, Kwiatkowski, M, Faiz, A, van den Bosch, T, Pouwels, SD, Dekker, FJ, ten Hacken, NHT, Horvatovich, P & Bischoff, R 2021, 'Adsorptive Microtiter Plates As Solid Supports in Affinity Purification Workflows', Journal of Proteome Research, vol. 20, no. 11, pp. 5218-5221.
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Affinity ligands such as antibodies are widely used in (bio)medical research for purifying proteins from complex biological samples. These ligands are generally immobilized onto solid supports which facilitate the separation of a captured protein from the sample matrix. Adsorptive microtiter plates are commonly used as solid supports prior to immunochemical detection (e.g., immunoassays) but hardly ever prior to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS-)-based detection. Here, we describe the use of adsorptive microtiter plates for protein enrichment prior to LC-MS detection, and we discuss opportunities and challenges of corresponding workflows, based on examples of targeted (i.e., soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) in human serum) and discovery-based workflows (i.e., transcription factor p65 (NF-κB) in lysed murine RAW 264.7 macrophages and peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase FKBP5 (FKBP5) in lysed human A549 alveolar basal epithelial cells). Thereby, we aim to highlight the potential usefulness of adsorptive microtiter plates in affinity purification workflows prior to LC-MS detection, which could increase their usage in mass spectrometry-based protein research.
Kong, M, Gu, Y, Chai, Y, Ke, J, Liu, Y, Xu, X, Li, Z, Feng, W & Li, F 2021, 'Luminescence interference-free lifetime nanothermometry pinpoints in vivo temperature', Science China Chemistry, vol. 64, no. 6, pp. 974-984.
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Koong, J, Johnson, C, Rafei, R, Hamze, M, Myers, GSA, Kenyon, JJ, Lopatkin, AJ & Hamidian, M 2021, 'Phylogenomics of two ST1 antibiotic-susceptible non-clinical Acinetobacter baumannii strains reveals multiple lineages and complex evolutionary history in global clone 1', Microbial Genomics, vol. 7, no. 12.
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Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that is difficult to treat due to its resistance to extreme conditions, including desiccation and antibiotics. Most strains causing outbreaks around the world belong to two main global lineages, namely global clones 1 and 2 (GC1 and GC2). Here, we used a combination of Illumina short read and MinION (Oxford Nanopore) long-read sequence data with a hybrid assembly approach to complete the genome sequence of two antibiotic-sensitive GC1 strains, Ex003 and Ax270, recovered in Lebanon from water and a rectal swab of a cat, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of Ax270 and Ex003 with 186 publicly available GC1 genomes revealed two major clades, including five main lineages (L1–L5), and four single-isolate lineages outside of the two clades. Ax270 and Ex003, along with AB307-0294 and MRSN7213 (both predicted antibiotic-susceptible isolates) represent these individual lineages. Antibiotic resistance islands and transposons interrupting the comM gene remain important features in L1–L5, with L1 associated with the AbaR-type resistance islands, L2 with AbaR4, L3 strains containing either AbaR4 or its variants as well as Tn6022::ISAba42, and L4 and L5 associated with Tn6022 or its variants. Analysis of the capsule (KL) and outer core (OCL) polysaccharide loci further revealed a complex evolutionary history probably involving many recombination events. As more genomes become available, more GC1 lineages continue to emerge. However, genome sequence data from more diverse geograp...
Kordzahiya, NE & Novikov, AA 2021, 'On maximal inequalities for Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes with jumps', Теория вероятностей и ее применения, vol. 66, no. 4, pp. 895-913.
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Получены моментные и экспоненциальные неравенства для максимума обобщенного процесса Орнштейна-Уленбека при некоторых предположениях на хвосты распределения скачкообразной компоненты.
Krishnaswamy, S, Ageno, W, Arabi, Y, Barbui, T, Cannegieter, S, Carrier, M, Cleuren, AC, Collins, P, Panicot‐Dubois, L, Freedman, JE, Freson, K, Hogg, P, James, AH, Kretz, CA, Lavin, M, Leebeek, FWG, Li, W, Maas, C, Machlus, K, Makris, M, Martinelli, I, Medved, L, Neerman‐Arbez, M, O’Donnell, JS, O'Sullivan, J, Rajpurkar, M, Schroeder, V, Spiegel, PC, Stanworth, SJ, Green, L & Undas, A 2021, 'Illustrated State‐of‐the‐Art Capsules of the ISTH 2021 Congress', Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis, vol. 5, no. 5, pp. e12532-e12532.
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Królas, W, Ibarra, A, Arbeiter, F, Arranz, F, Bernardi, D, Cappelli, M, Castellanos, J, Dézsi, T, Dzitko, H, Favuzza, P, García, A, Gutiérrez, J, Lewitowicz, M, Maj, A, Martin-Fuertes, F, Micciché, G, Muñoz, A, Nitti, FS, Pinna, T, Podadera, I, Pons, J, Qiu, Y, Román, R, Toth, M & Zsakai, A 2021, 'The IFMIF-DONES fusion oriented neutron source: evolution of the design', Nuclear Fusion, vol. 61, no. 12, pp. 125002-125002.
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Abstract IFMIF-DONES is a powerful neutron irradiation facility for the study and qualification of materials planned as part of the European roadmap to fusion-generated electricity. Its main goal is to study properties of materials under severe irradiation in a neutron field similar to the one in a fusion reactor first wall. It is a key facility to prepare for the construction of the DEMO power plant envisaged to follow ITER. The decision to start the construction of IFMIF-DONES is expected imminent. In this paper we present and discuss several key technical studies and decisions to improve and optimize the engineering design of IFMIF-DONES which were carried out as part of the activities in the framework of the EUROfusion Early Neutron Source work package (2015–2020). The following topics are discussed in this paper: the new layout of the IFMIF-DONES SRF LINAC accelerator and high-energy beam transport line, 7Be impurity management approach for the lithium loop, a maintainable test cell concept, a revised layout of the access cell for the remote maintenance operations, and facilities for complementary experiments.
Kuchibhotla, VNS, Starkey, MR, Reid, AT, Heijink, IH, Nawijn, MC, Hansbro, PM & Knight, DA 2021, 'Inhibition of β-Catenin/CREB Binding Protein Signaling Attenuates House Dust Mite-Induced Goblet Cell Metaplasia in Mice', Frontiers in Physiology, vol. 12.
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Excessive mucus production is a major feature of allergic asthma. Disruption of epithelial junctions by allergens such as house dust mite (HDM) results in the activation of β-catenin signaling, which has been reported to stimulate goblet cell differentiation. β-catenin interacts with various co-activators including CREB binding protein (CBP) and p300, thereby regulating the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, respectively. We specifically investigated the role of the β-catenin/CBP signaling pathway in goblet cell metaplasia in a HDM-induced allergic airway disease model in mice using ICG-001, a small molecule inhibitor that blocks the binding of CBP to β-catenin. Female 6- 8-week-old BALB/c mice were sensitized to HDM/saline on days 0, 1, and 2, followed by intranasal challenge with HDM/saline with or without subcutaneous ICG-001/vehicle treatment from days 14 to 17, and samples harvested 24 h after the last challenge/treatment. Differential inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were enumerated. Alcian blue (AB)/Periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining was used to identify goblet cells/mucus production, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was assessed using invasive plethysmography. Exposure to HDM induced airway inflammation, goblet cell metaplasia and increased AHR, with increased airway resistance in response to the non-specific spasmogen methacholine. Inhibition of the β-catenin/CBP pathway using treatment with ICG-001 significantly attenuated the HDM-induced goblet cell metaplasia and infiltration of macrophages, but had no effect on eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes or AHR. Increased β-catenin/CBP signaling may promote HDM-induced goblet cell metaplasia in mice.
Kulkarni, MP, Kiran, PSS, Singh, K, Dua, K, Tanwar, S, Satija, S, Singh, V & Kumar, R 2021, 'A Review of Basics and Potential of Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Systems', Nanoscience & Nanotechnology-Asia, vol. 11, no. 6.
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Aim: For procuring the stable form of drug delivery, tremendous efforts have been made in developing new drug delivery vectors. One such approach that meets the desired stability standards is Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles (LCNs). Background:The liquid crystals are the intermediate forms of solid and liquid materials, which hold high tolerance to bear the influences of physical parameters. The liquid crystals are employed in nanotechnology to find the best way to produce the intended action of customized targeting drug delivery. The structural alignment is another critical aspect to consider, as these can accommodate wholesome drug amounts. Methods:From the studies, it has been evident that distinct characteristics like the simplicity in structure, self-assembling properties, feasibility of production, efficacy in delivery with low toxic values, have addressed the excellency of LCNs. Conclusion:The current review focusses on key areas regarding the nature of liquid crystal, diverse forms, technologies used to transform them into the desired nanoparticles, and their applications as drug delivery carriers as well as theranostic agent.
Kumar, S, Kumar, M, Chandola, VK, Kumar, V, Saini, RK, Pant, N, Kumari, N, Srivastava, A, Singh, S, Singh, R, Krishan, G, Induwar, SP, Kumar, S, Yadav, BK, Maurya, NS & Chaudhary, A 2021, 'Groundwater Quality Issues and Challenges for Drinking and Irrigation Uses in Central Ganga Basin Dominated with Rice-Wheat Cropping System', Water, vol. 13, no. 17, pp. 2344-2344.
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Increased population and increasing demands for food in the Indo-Gangetic plain are likely to exert pressure on fresh water due to rise in demand for drinking and irrigation water. The study focuses on Bhojpur district, Bihar located in the central Ganga basin, to assess the groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purpose and discuss the issues and challenges. Groundwater is mostly utilized in the study area for drinking and irrigation purposes (major crops sown in the area are rice and wheat). There were around 45 groundwater samples collected across the study region in the pre-monsoon season (year 2019). The chemical analytical results show that Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3− ions are present in abundance in groundwater and governing the groundwater chemistry. Further analysis shows that 66%, 69% and 84% of the samples exceeded the acceptable limit of arsenic (As), Fe and Mn respectively and other trace metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) are within the permissible limit of drinking water as prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standard for drinking water. Generally, high As concentration has been found in the aquifer (depth ranges from 20 to 40 m below ground surface) located in proximity of river Ganga. For assessing the irrigation water quality, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) values, residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Na%, permeability index (PI) and calcium alteration index (CAI) were calculated and found that almost all the samples are found to be in good to excellent category for irrigation purposes. The groundwater facie has been classified into Ca-Mg-HCO3 type.
Kumar, U, Srivastava, A, Kumari, N, Rashmi, Sahoo, B, Chatterjee, C & Raghuwanshi, NS 2021, 'Evaluation of Spatio-Temporal Evapotranspiration Using Satellite-Based Approach and Lysimeter in the Agriculture Dominated Catchment', Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, vol. 49, no. 8, pp. 1939-1950.
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Crop coefficient (Kc) represents the actual crop growth of the crop. It plays an important role in estimating water requirements at the different growth stages of the crop. However, FAO 56 Penman–Monteith Kc method does not account for spatial heterogeneity and uncertainty for regional climatic conditions significantly. Therefore, this study aims to develop the relation between Kc and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) using a linear regression and back calculations. These relationships were adjusted to local conditions using information from survey data obtained during Rabi season (2014–2015). The NDVI–Kc model (r2 = 0.86) has developed using NDVI–Kc from a fine resolution Landsat 8 remote sensing data. NDVI–Kc regression equation was utilized for generating crop coefficient for different month of season. The Vegetation Index-based AET estimated was evaluated with lysimeter data for different crop growth stage across the season. The results have shown that NDVI–Kc estimated AET has been better correlated with NDVI–Kc remote sensing model. Thus, the output of this research can help to calculate actual water demand in a command area and be helpful in allocating water from less demand area toward more demand area.
Kumari, N, Srivastava, A & Dumka, UC 2021, 'A Long-Term Spatiotemporal Analysis of Vegetation Greenness over the Himalayan Region Using Google Earth Engine', Climate, vol. 9, no. 7, pp. 109-109.
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The Himalayas constitute one of the richest and most diverse ecosystems in the Indian sub-continent. Vegetation greenness driven by climate in the Himalayan region is often overlooked as field-based studies are challenging due to high altitude and complex topography. Although the basic information about vegetation cover and its interactions with different hydroclimatic factors is vital, limited attention has been given to understanding the response of vegetation to different climatic factors. The main aim of the present study is to analyse the relationship between the spatiotemporal variability of vegetation greenness and associated climatic and hydrological drivers within the Upper Khoh River (UKR) Basin of the Himalayas at annual and seasonal scales. We analysed two vegetation indices, namely, normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI) time-series data, for the last 20 years (2001–2020) using Google Earth Engine. We found that both the NDVI and EVI showed increasing trends in the vegetation greening during the period under consideration, with the NDVI being consistently higher than the EVI. The mean NDVI and EVI increased from 0.54 and 0.31 (2001), respectively, to 0.65 and 0.36 (2020). Further, the EVI tends to correlate better with the different hydroclimatic factors in comparison to the NDVI. The EVI is strongly correlated with ET with r2 = 0.73 whereas the NDVI showed satisfactory performance with r2 = 0.45. On the other hand, the relationship between the EVI and precipitation yielded r2 = 0.34, whereas there was no relationship was observed between the NDVI and precipitation. These findings show that there exists a strong correlation between the EVI and hydroclimatic factors, which shows that changes in vegetation phenology can be better captured using the EVI than the NDVI.
Kumari, N, Srivastava, A, Sahoo, B, Raghuwanshi, NS & Bretreger, D 2021, 'Identification of Suitable Hydrological Models for Streamflow Assessment in the Kangsabati River Basin, India, by Using Different Model Selection Scores', Natural Resources Research, vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 4187-4205.
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The increasing demand for water in developing countries, like India, requires efficient water management and resource allocation. This is crucial to accurately assess and predict hydrological processes such as streamflow, drought, and flood. However, simulations of these hydrologic processes from various hydrological models differ in their accuracy. By analyzing different characteristics of hydrological models, selection scores can be used to select the best model for the intended purpose based on their inherit strengths (i.e., some models are better for streamflow prediction). In this study, 13 different criteria were used for the model selection scores including temporal and spatial resolutions, and processes involved. Thereafter, based on different scores, we selected two different hydrological models for streamflow prediction in the Kangsabati River Basin (KRB) in eastern India, namely (1) Génie Rural à 4 paramètres Journalier (GR4J), a conceptual model, and (2) Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC), a semi-distributed model. The models were calibrated against the daily observed streamflow at upper KRB (Reservoir) and lower KRB (Mohanpur) from 2000 to 2006 and validated during the period from 2008 to 2010. Despite the differences in model structure and data used, both models simulated streamflow at a daily time scale with Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient of 0.71–0.82 for the VIC model and 0.63–0.71 for the GR4J. Due to the simpler structure, parsimonious nature, fewer parameters, and reasonable accuracy, the results suggest that a conceptual rainfall—runoff model like GR4J can be used in data-deficient conditions.
Labeeuw, L, Commault, AS, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Emmerton, B, Nguyen, LN, Nghiem, LD & Ralph, PJ 2021, 'A comprehensive analysis of an effective flocculation method for high quality microalgal biomass harvesting', Science of The Total Environment, vol. 752, pp. 141708-141708.
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Lagune, M, Petit, C, Sotomayor, FV, Johansen, MD, Beckham, KSH, Ritter, C, Girard-Misguich, F, Wilmanns, M, Kremer, L, Maurer, FP & Herrmann, J-L 2021, 'Conserved and specialized functions of Type VII secretion systems in non-tuberculous mycobacteria', Microbiology, vol. 167, no. 7.
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Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a large group of micro-organisms comprising more than 200 individual species. Most NTM are saprophytic organisms and are found mainly in terrestrial and aquatic environments. In recent years, NTM have been increasingly associated with infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals, prompting significant efforts to understand the diverse pathogenic and signalling traits of these emerging pathogens. Since the discovery of Type VII secretion systems (T7SS), there have been significant developments regarding the role of these complex systems in mycobacteria. These specialised systems, also known as Early Antigenic Secretion (ESX) systems, are employed to secrete proteins across the inner membrane. They also play an essential role in virulence, nutrient uptake and conjugation. Our understanding of T7SS in mycobacteria has significantly benefited over the last few years, from the resolution of ESX-3 structure in Mycobacterium smegmatis , to ESX-5 structures in Mycobacterium xenopi and Mycob...
Lai, W-H, Zhang, L, Yan, Z, Hua, W, Indris, S, Lei, Y, Liu, H, Wang, Y-X, Hu, Z, Liu, HK, Chou, S, Wang, G & Dou, SX 2021, 'Activating Inert Surface Pt Single Atoms via Subsurface Doping for Oxygen Reduction Reaction', Nano Letters, vol. 21, no. 19, pp. 7970-7978.
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The performance of single-atom catalysts strongly depends on their particular coordination environments in the near-surface region. Herein, we discover that engineering extra Pt single atoms in the subsurface (Ptsubsurf) can significantly enhance the catalytic efficiency of surface Pt single atoms toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). We experimentally and theoretically investigated the effects of the Ptsubsurf single atoms implanted in different positions of the subsurface of Co particles. The local environments and catalytic properties of surface Pt1 are highly tunable via Ptsubsurf doping. Specifically, the obtained Pt1@Co/NC catalyst displays a remarkable performance for ORR, achieving mass activity of 4.2 mA μgPt-1 (28 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C) at 0.9 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in 0.1 M HClO4 solution with high stability over 30000 cycles.
Laiolo, L, Matear, R, Soja-Woźniak, M, Suggett, DJ, Hughes, DJ, Baird, ME & Doblin, MA 2021, 'Modelling the impact of phytoplankton cell size and abundance on inherent optical properties (IOPs) and a remotely sensed chlorophyll-a product', Journal of Marine Systems, vol. 213, pp. 103460-103460.
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© 2020 Elsevier B.V. Ocean colour data are commonly used to quantify primary production, study phytoplankton dynamics and calibrate marine models, thus understanding the origin of errors in the retrieved chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) product is critical. One source of uncertainty in retrieved Chl-a products can be related to large photosynthetic cells, characterised by lower mass-specific absorption coefficients due to increased packaging effect. Here, we explore the relationship between phytoplankton size structure and an ocean colour product using optical simulations and in situ observations. Specifically, we use an optical model to explore how phytoplankton cell size and abundance influence phytoplankton absorption and backscattering coefficients and the implication this has for water leaving radiance and the estimated Chl-a derived from satellite ocean colour. The optical model simulations show phytoplankton cell size has a significant impact on the remote-sensing reflectance, with Chl-a packaged in 5 to 10 μm cells resulting in about 54 to 76% the simulated ocean colour Chl-a compared to 1 μm cells, as determined by an algorithm that converts reflectances to Chl-a. To support optical simulations, size-fractionated Chl-a samples were collected from several water masses to investigate the phytoplankton size contribution (i.e., < 2 μm, 2–10 μm and > 10 μm) to the total Chl-a. We focused on the offshore eastern Australian ocean region, largely characterised by oligotrophic waters in which phytoplankton dominate the optical properties of the water column. Of the 22 stations sampled, a total of ten in situ size fractionated Chl-a measurements were matched-up with the corresponding clear-sky satellite Chl-a product. The matched-up points revealed a systematic underestimation of in situ Chl-a. With the low amount of data, it was not possible to statistically relate the satellite underestimation to a specific phytoplankton size class, but the observations showed th...
Lapwong, Y, Dejtaradol, A & Webb, JK 2021, 'Plasticity in thermal hardening of the invasive Asian house gecko', Evolutionary Ecology, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 631-641.
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The Asian house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) is a tropical invasive species that has established and spread throughout several temperate regions around the world. In some invasive species, rapid thermal acclimation (thermal hardening) may contribute to their success in occupying a wide range of climates. In this study, we investigated whether invasive house geckos from southeastern Australia show differing thermal hardening responses than individuals from the native range in Thailand. In the laboratory, we measured the basal heat tolerance (CTmax) of the geckos and their heat hardening response after being subjected to the second thermal stress after 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 h. When geckos had recovered, we measured their basal cold tolerance (CTmin) and cold hardening response over the same time intervals. We then explored whether hardening responses differed between populations or among time intervals. We found that basal heat tolerances did not differ between populations, but geckos from Australia had lower cold tolerance than geckos from Thailand. The magnitude of the heat hardening was similar between populations, but the introduced geckos had a higher magnitude of cold hardening. The native geckos could maximize their cold tolerance capacity for only 0.6 °C, versus 0.9 °C for the introduced geckos. Also, geckos from Australia exhibited faster responses to thermal stress than did geckos from Thailand. Maximum thermal tolerances as a result of hardening responses peaked within three hours after thermal stress in Australian geckos (adjusted means = 44.0 °C for CTmax and 9.9 °C for CTmin) and at five hours after thermal stress in Thailand geckos (adjusted means = 44.2 °C and 10.2 °C, respectively). The plasticity in the thermal hardening of the invasive gecko should enable it to survive rapid temperature fluctuations, especially winter cold snaps that occur in temperate regions.
Lapwong, Y, Dejtaradol, A & Webb, JK 2021, 'Shifts in thermal tolerance of the invasive Asian house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) across native and introduced ranges', Biological Invasions, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 989-996.
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The ability to rapidly adjust thermal tolerance in response to variable temperatures may facilitate the success of invasive species in non-native ranges. The Asian house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus is native to the tropics of South and Southeast Asia. This small lizard has spread across the globe and has also successfully invaded colder regions of Australia. In this study, we investigated whether this species displays plasticity in thermal tolerance in its introduced range. We measured cold tolerance (CTmin) and heat tolerance (CTmax) of H. frenatus from two native tropical populations in Thailand, and two introduced subtropical populations in southeastern Australia. We also explored seasonal variation in the thermal tolerance of the introduced populations. We found that heat tolerance (CTmax) of geckos did not differ among four populations in Thailand and Australia (range = 43.4–43.7 °C). By contrast, geckos from southeastern Australia had lower cold tolerance (CTmin) (mean = 10.43 °C) than geckos from Thailand (mean = 11.57 °C). We also documented seasonal shifts in cold tolerance of H. frenatus from southeastern Australia. Geckos captured in winter had cold tolerances 1–2 °C lower than those captured in summer. Unexpectedly, this shift in cold tolerance was accompanied by a 1–2 °C upward shift in heat tolerance. Our results support a growing body of evidence showing that tropical invaders can adjust cold tolerance downwards via plasticity or acclimation. Such changes may allow tropical invaders to expand their geographic range into colder regions of non-native ranges.
Larkin, BP, Nguyen, LT, Hou, M, Glastras, SJ, Chen, H, Wang, R, Pollock, CA & Saad, S 2021, 'Novel Role of Gestational Hydralazine in Limiting Maternal and Dietary Obesity-Related Chronic Kidney Disease', Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, vol. 9.
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BackgroundMaternal obesity is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in offspring, underpinning the theory of the developmental origins of health and disease. DNA methylation has been implicated in the programming of adult chronic disease by maternal obesity, therefore, DNA demethylating agents may mitigate offspring risk of disease. In rodent models, low-dose hydralazine has previously been shown to reduce renal fibrosis via DNA demethylation. We used mouse models of maternal obesity and offspring obesity to determine whether administration of low-dose hydralazine during gestation can prevent fetal programming of CKD in offspring.MethodsFemale C57BL/6 mice received high fat diet (HFD) or chow prior to mating, during gestation and lactation. During gestation, dams received subcutaneous hydralazine (5 mg/kg) or saline thrice-weekly. Male offspring weaned to HFD or chow, which continued until endpoint at 32 weeks. Biometric and metabolic parameters, renal global DNA methylation, renal functional and structural changes, and renal markers of fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed at endpoint.ResultsOffspring exposed to maternal obesity or diet-induced obesity had significantly increased renal global DNA methylation, together with other adverse renal effects including albuminuria, glomerulosclerosis, renal fibrosis, and oxidative stress. Offspring exposed to gestational hydralazine had significantly reduced renal global DNA methylation. In obese offspring of obese mothers, gestational hydralazine significantly decreased albuminuria, glomerulosclerosis, and serum creatinine. Obese offspring of hydralazine-treated lean mothers displayed reduced markers of renal fibrosis and oxidative stress.ConclusionGesta...
Larkin, BP, Saad, S, Glastras, SJ, Nguyen, LT, Hou, M, Chen, H, Wang, R & Pollock, CA 2021, 'Low-dose hydralazine during gestation reduces renal fibrosis in rodent offspring exposed to maternal high fat diet', PLOS ONE, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. e0248854-e0248854.
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BackgroundMaternal high fat diet (HFD) promotes chronic kidney disease (CKD) in offspring. This is in accordance with the theory of fetal programming, which suggests adverse conditions occurring in utero predispose offspring to chronic conditions later in life. DNA methylation has been proposed as a key mechanism by which fetal programming occurs and is implicated in CKD progression. DNA demethylating drugs may interrupt the fetal programming of CKD by maternal obesity. Hydralazine, an antihypertensive agent, demethylates DNA at low doses which do not reduce blood pressure. We used a mouse model of maternal obesity to determine whether gestational administration of low-dose hydralazine to mothers can prevent CKD in offspring.MethodsC57BL/6 dams received HFD or chow from 6 weeks prior to mating and were administered subcutaneous hydralazine (5mg/kg) or saline thrice weekly during gestation. Male offspring were weaned to chow and were sacrificed at either postnatal week 9 or week 32. Biometric and metabolic parameters, renal global DNA methylation, renal structural and functional changes and markers of fibrosis, oxidative stress and inflammation were measured in offspring at weeks 9 and 32.ResultsIn week 9 offspring, maternal HFD consumption did not significantly alter anthropometric or metabolic parameters, or renal global DNA methylation. Week 32 offspring had increased renal global DNA methylation, together with albuminuria, glomerulosclerosis, renal fibrosis and oxidative stress. Administration of low-dose hydralazine to obese mothers during gestation reduced renal global DNA methylation and renal fibrotic markers in week 32 offspring.Conclusion...
Larkin, MF, Davis, TR, Harasti, D, Cadiou, G, Poulos, DE & Smith, SDA 2021, 'The rapid decline of an Endangered temperate soft coral species', Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, vol. 255, pp. 107364-107364.
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Leal, E, de Beyer, L, O'Connor, W, Dove, M, Ralph, PJ & Pernice, M 2021, 'Production optimisation of Tisochrysis lutea as a live feed for juvenile Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea glomerata, using large-scale photobioreactors', Aquaculture, vol. 533, pp. 736077-736077.
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© 2020 Elsevier B.V. The aquaculture industry uses microalgae as a live feed for juvenile oysters in hatcheries to meet their nutritional requirements, including their need for several essential Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The mass culture of microalgae is not only a major bottleneck for the production of juvenile oysters, but also a significant cost, accounting for 20–50% of hatchery operating costs. Currently, low biomass concentrations, high production costs and poor cultivation systems limit the quantity and quality of microalgae feed. This study focused on Tisochrysis lutea, a microalgae species commonly used in aquaculture, and we assessed the potential of photobioreactors with an improved light source and CO2 input to increase biomass production and improve biochemical composition of algal feed. Two photobioreactor systems were compared: the current industry set up (DPI) comprising fluorescent lighting and minimal CO2 input versus an optimized system utilising LEDs and increased CO2. Cultures of T. lutea were monitored over a 12-day growth period and harvested on day 14 for biochemical analysis. Final cell density was significantly higher in the optimized system relative to the conventional culture systems (6.2 × 106 cells / mL versus 3.7 × 106 cells / mL, respectively). The biochemical profile of T. lutea was not significantly different between the two photobioreactors systems. The algal biomass produced during this comparative experiment was used in a feeding trial on oyster spat, Saccostrea glomerata. Spat fed with algae produced in optimized vs conventional photobioreactors showed no significant difference in growth, but oyster spat fed with T. lutea grown in optimized photobioreactors did show a significant increase in their EPA content. Overall, our results contribute to our understanding of how altered culture conditions affect microalgal production and biochemical composit...
Lee, L-Y, Hew, GSY, Mehta, M, Shukla, SD, Satija, S, Khurana, N, Anand, K, Dureja, H, Singh, SK, Mishra, V, Singh, PK, Gulati, M, Prasher, P, Aljabali, AAA, Tambuwala, MM, Thangavelu, L, Panneerselvam, J, Gupta, G, Zacconi, FC, Shastri, M, Jha, NK, Xenaki, D, MacLoughlin, R, Oliver, BG, Chellappan, DK & Dua, K 2021, 'Targeting eosinophils in respiratory diseases: Biological axis, emerging therapeutics and treatment modalities', Life Sciences, vol. 267, pp. 118973-118973.
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Eosinophils are bi-lobed, multi-functional innate immune cells with diverse cell surface receptors that regulate local immune and inflammatory responses. Several inflammatory and infectious diseases are triggered with their build up in the blood and tissues. The mobilization of eosinophils into the lungs is regulated by a cascade of processes guided by Th2 cytokine generating T-cells. Recruitment of eosinophils essentially leads to a characteristic immune response followed by airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling, which are hallmarks of chronic respiratory diseases. By analysing the dynamic interactions of eosinophils with their extracellular environment, which also involve signaling molecules and tissues, various therapies have been invented and developed to target respiratory diseases. Having entered clinical testing, several eosinophil targeting therapeutic agents have shown much promise and have further bridged the gap between theory and practice. Moreover, researchers now have a clearer understanding of the roles and mechanisms of eosinophils. These factors have successfully assisted molecular biologists to block specific pathways in the growth, migration and activation of eosinophils. The primary purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the eosinophil biology with a special emphasis on potential pharmacotherapeutic targets. The review also summarizes promising eosinophil-targeting agents, along with their mechanisms and rationale for use, including those in developmental pipeline, in clinical trials, or approved for other respiratory disorders.
Lee, S, Xu, H, Rice, SA, Chong, TH & Oh, H-S 2021, 'Development of a quorum quenching-column to control biofouling in reverse osmosis water treatment processes', Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, vol. 94, pp. 188-194.
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© 2020 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Biofouling is recognized as one of the most problematic fouling types in reverse osmosis (RO) processes and lead to high energy requirements and operating costs. Over the past decade, many studies on membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems for wastewater applications demonstrated that disrupting cell-cell communications among bacteria, called quorum quenching (QQ), is a promising approach to inhibit biofouling of membranes. Here, we developed the QQ-column as a novel strategy to control biofouling in RO systems. The QQ-column was prepared by incorporating a recombinant bacterial QQ strain into hydrogel beads and embedding these beads inside a column. The QQ-column was installed upstream of the RO module to degrade N-acyl homoserine lactone, a quorum sensing (QS) signal, from the feed in a laboratory-scale RO system operating in total recycle mode. The QQ-column reduced the concentrations of signal molecules by ∼29% in an RO system and mitigated biofilm formation (38.6% reduction of cell number) on the membrane, consequently reducing the transmembrane pressure by 50.1%. These results demonstrate that integrating QQ bacteria into columns is a practical method to control biofouling in RO systems.
Lee, U, Carroll, RJ, Marder, K, Wang, Y & Garcia, TP 2021, 'Estimating disease onset from change points of markers measured with error', Biostatistics, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 819-835.
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Summary Huntington disease is an autosomal dominant, neurodegenerative disease without clearly identified biomarkers for when motor-onset occurs. Current standards to determine motor-onset rely on a clinician’s subjective judgment that a patient’s extrapyramidal signs are unequivocally associated with Huntington disease. This subjectivity can lead to error which could be overcome using an objective, data-driven metric that determines motor-onset. Recent studies of motor-sign decline—the longitudinal degeneration of motor-ability in patients—have revealed that motor-onset is closely related to an inflection point in its longitudinal trajectory. We propose a nonlinear location-shift marker model that captures this motor-sign decline and assesses how its inflection point is linked to other markers of Huntington disease progression. We propose two estimating procedures to estimate this model and its inflection point: one is a parametric method using nonlinear mixed effects model and the other one is a multi-stage nonparametric approach, which we developed. In an empirical study, the parametric approach was sensitive to correct specification of the mean structure of the longitudinal data. In contrast, our multi-stage nonparametric procedure consistently produced unbiased estimates regardless of the true mean structure. Applying our multi-stage nonparametric estimator to Neurobiological Predictors of Huntington Disease, a large observational study of Huntington disease, leads to earlier prediction of motor-onset compared to the clinician’s subjective judgment.
Lenzen, M, Li, M & Murray, SA 2021, 'Impacts of harmful algal blooms on marine aquaculture in a low-carbon future', Harmful Algae, vol. 110, pp. 102143-102143.
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The IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C highlights the potential for dietary shifts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. Reductions in the consumption of terrestrial animal protein require increases in the consumption of other food categories, to maintain food security, balanced dietary patterns, and protein intake. Aquaculture has long been suggested as one way to meet future food security needs, and marine and estuarine aquaculture in particular is associated with comparatively low greenhouse gas emissions. However, marine and freshwater aquaculture is affected by factors including harmful algal blooms (HABs), which have been increasingly documented around the world, correlated to increases in worldwide aquaculture. In this study, we applied a global multi-region input-output model to capture the direct effects as well as the indirect and induced effects HABs might pose to a global dietary transition from terrestrial livestock to increased seafood consumption from marine and estuarine aquaculture sources. We found that marine and estuarine aquaculture has a substantial potential to replace meat consumption from terrestrial livestock sources, as increases in CO2 emissions from aquaculture were more than offset by reductions in emissions from mainly cattle grazing and associated land clearing. HABs were found to have a minor monetary impact, but the impact on protein supply was found to be potentially sizeable. For example, in a future setting where 40% of terrestrial protein sources were replaced by aquaculture, a HAB-caused global loss of 5% would set in motion numerous supply-chain cascades, affecting industries auxiliary to aquaculture, indirectly and ultimately reducing protein intake by 10-20%. Such reductions have the potential for pushing parts of Sub-Saharan populations into protein-energy malnutrition. Nevertheless, there remains a significant potential for a dietary transition to increased aquaculture seafood to cont...
Leong, HS, Watanabe, S, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Fong, CY, Moy, HY, Yao, YJ, Witting, PK & Fu, S 2021, 'Monitoring metabolism of synthetic cannabinoid 4F-MDMB-BINACA via high-resolution mass spectrometry assessed in cultured hepatoma cell line, fungus, liver microsomes and confirmed using urine samples', Forensic Toxicology, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 198-212.
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Abstract Purpose A tert-leucinate derivative synthetic cannabinoid, methyl (2S)-2-([1-(4-fluorobutyl)-1H-indazole-3-carbonyl]amino)-3,3-dimethylbutanoate (4F-MDMB-BINACA, 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA or 4F-ADB) is known to adversely impact health. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of three different modes of monitoring metabolism: HepG2 liver cells, fungus Cunninghamella elegans (C. elegans) and pooled human liver microsomes (HLM) for comparison with human in-vivo metabolism in identifying suitable urinary marker(s) for 4F-MDMB-BINACA intake. Methods Tentative structure elucidation of in-vitro metabolites was performed on HepG2, C. elegans and HLM using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis. In-vivo metabolites obtained from twenty authentic human urine samples were analysed using liquid chromatography–Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Results Incubation with HepG2, C. elegans and HLM yielded nine, twenty-three and seventeen metabolites of 4F-MDMB-BINACA, respectively, formed via ester hydrolysis, hydroxylation, carboxylation, dehydrogenation, oxidative defluorination, carbonylation or reaction combinations. Phase II metabolites of glucosidation and sulfation were also exclusively identified using C. elegans model. Eight in-vivo metabolites tentatively identified were mainly products of ester hydrolysis with or without additional dehydrogenation,
Li, C, Fröch, JE, Nonahal, M, Tran, TN, Toth, M, Kim, S & Aharonovich, I 2021, 'Integration of hBN Quantum Emitters in Monolithically Fabricated Waveguides', ACS Photonics, vol. 8, no. 10, pp. 2966-2972.
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Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is gaining interest for potential applications in integrated quantum nanophotonics. Yet, to establish hBN as an integrated photonic platform several cornerstones must be established, including the integration and coupling of quantum emitters to photonic waveguides. Supported by simulations, we study the approach of monolithic integration, which is expected to have coupling efficiencies that are ∼4 times higher than those of a conventional hybrid stacking strategy. We then demonstrate the fabrication of such devices from hBN and showcase the successful integration of hBN single photon emitters with a monolithic waveguide. We demonstrate the coupling of single photons from the quantum emitters to the waveguide modes and collection from on-chip grating couplers. Our results build a general framework for monolithically integrated hBN single photon emitter and will facilitate future works toward on-chip integrated quantum photonics with hBN.
Li, C, Mendelson, N, Ritika, R, Chen, Y, Xu, Z-Q, Toth, M & Aharonovich, I 2021, 'Scalable and Deterministic Fabrication of Quantum Emitter Arrays from Hexagonal Boron Nitride', Nano Letters, vol. 21, no. 8, pp. 3626-3632.
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We demonstrate the fabrication of large-scale arrays of single-photon emitters (SPEs) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Bottom-up growth of hBN onto nanoscale arrays of dielectric pillars yields corresponding arrays of hBN emitters at the pillar sites. Statistical analysis shows that the pillar diameter is critical for isolating single defects, and diameters of ∼250 nm produce a near-unity yield of a single emitter at each pillar site. Our results constitute a promising route toward spatially controlled generation of hBN SPEs and provide an effective and efficient method to create large-scale SPE arrays. The results pave the way to scalability and high throughput fabrication of SPEs for advanced quantum photonic applications.
Li, D, Wyrsch, ER, Elankumaran, P, Dolejska, M, Marenda, MS, Browning, GF, Bushell, RN, McKinnon, J, Chowdhury, PR, Hitchick, N, Miller, N, Donner, E, Drigo, B, Baker, D, Charles, IG, Kudinha, T, Jarocki, VM & Djordjevic, SP 2021, 'Genomic comparisons of Escherichia coli ST131 from Australia', Microbial Genomics, vol. 7, no. 12.
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Escherichia coli ST131 is a globally dispersed extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli lineage contributing significantly to hospital and community acquired urinary tract and bloodstream infections. Here we describe a detailed phylogenetic analysis of the whole genome sequences of 284 Australian ST131 E. coli isolates from diverse sources, including clinical, food and companion animals, wildlife and the environment. Our phylogeny and the results of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis show the typical ST131 clade distribution with clades A, B and C clearly displayed, but no niche associations were observed. Indeed, interspecies relatedness was a feature of this study. Thirty-five isolates (29 of human and six of wild bird origin) from clade A (32 fimH41, 2 fimH89, 1 fimH141) were observed to differ by an average of 76 SNPs. Forty-five isolates from cla...
Li, G, Du, P, Qiang, X, Jin, D, Liu, H, Li, B & Guo, J 2021, 'Retraction notice to “Low-expressed GAS5 injure myocardial cells and progression of chronic heart failure via regulation of miR-223-3P” [Experimental and Molecular Pathology 117C (2020) 104529]', Experimental and Molecular Pathology, vol. 122, pp. 104683-104683.
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Li, H, Chen, H, Morgan, L, Li, W & Oliver, BG 2021, 'A narrative review of clinical studies of herbal treatment of difficult to manage asthma', Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, vol. 44, pp. 101433-101433.
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Asthma can be complex and difficult to manage. Patients often seek alternative treatment options, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The paradigms that inform TCM treatments include a philosophy focusing on modifying the whole body status ('bian zheng') to treat the lungs. TCM practitioners use personalized treatment plans based on clusters of clinical patterns (eg. cold-related wheezing, kidney insufficiency/energy-deficiency-related wheezing). TCM includes herbal remedies and non-oral therapies such as cupping, acupuncture, and massage. The efficacy of TCM treatments of asthma is not well described as the majority of studies are published only in Chinese literature. We reviewed all available clinical trials in CNKI, Chaoxin, Wanfang, CQVIP, Springer-link, Science Direct, and Pubmed. Papers in Chinese were translated by dual lingual TCM and Western medicine doctors. Based on the identified studies, TCM is a safe additive treatment to Western medicine that can improve both symptoms and quality of life for patients with asthma.
Li, H, Wu, Z, Yang, Z, Zhanghao, K, Xi, P & Jin, D 2021, 'Axially overlapped multi-focus light sheet with enlarged field of view', Applied Physics Letters, vol. 118, no. 22, pp. 1-6.
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Light sheet fluorescence microscopy provides optical sectioning and is widely used in volumetric imaging of large specimens. However, the axial resolution and the lateral Field of View (FoV) of the system, defined by the light sheet, typically limit each other due to the spatial band product of the excitation objective. Here, we develop a simple multi-focus scheme to extend the FoV, where a Gaussian light sheet can be focused at three or more consecutive positions. Axially overlapped multiple light sheets significantly enlarge the FoV with improved uniformity and negligible loss in axial resolution. By measuring the point spread function of fluorescent beads, we demonstrated that the obtained light sheet has a FoV of 450 μm and a maximum axial FWHM of 7.5 μm. Compared with the conventional single-focus one, the multi-focus Gaussian light sheet displays a significantly improved optical sectioning ability over the full FoV when imaging cells and zebrafish.
Li, H, Xu, Y, Wang, G, Chen, X, Liang, W & Ni, H 2021, 'Editorial Expression of Concern: Long non-coding RNA Mirt2 relieves lipopolysaccharide-induced injury in PC12 cells by suppressing miR-429', Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry, vol. 77, no. 4, pp. 695-695.
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Li, J, Ding, Z, Pan, L, Li, J, Wang, C & Wang, G 2021, 'Facile self-templating synthesis of layered carbon with N, S dual doping for highly efficient sodium storage', Carbon, vol. 173, pp. 31-40.
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Nitrogen and sulfur co-doping is emerging as a promising approach to prominently improve the sodium storage performance of carbonaceous materials. However, poisonous chemicals and rigorous conditions are normally involved in their preparation, especially in the sulfidation process. Therefore, developing novel, facile and eco-friendly approaches to construct nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon (NSC) is still challenging. In this work, a facile self-templating synthesis method is reported to allow the simple and green preparation of NSC. Particularly, small-molecule dithiooxamide can be directly converted to NSC through a facile thermal condensation process, serving as precursor, template, and self-doping agent simultaneously. In account of its high ionic and electronic conductivity, increased interlayer spacing, unique layers assembled structure and efficient N, S co-doping, the NSC obtained at 800 °C exhibits excellent sodium storage performances, including prominent reversible capacity (316.1 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 up to 100 cycles), remarkable rate capability (178.3 mAh g−1 at 3 A g−1), and robust stability upon long-term cycling (213.6 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 up to 2000 cycles), rendering itself to be a promising candidate for practical sodium-ion battery.
Li, J, Tong, H, Li, D, Jiang, Q, Zhang, Y, Tang, W, Jin, D, Chen, S, Qin, X, Zhang, S & Xue, R 2021, 'The long non-coding RNA DKFZp434J0226 regulates the alternative splicing process through phosphorylation of SF3B6 in PDAC', Molecular Medicine, vol. 27, no. 1.
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Abstract Background Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a type of pervasive genes that regulates various biological processes, are differentially expressed in different types of malignant tumors. The role of lncRNAs in the carcinogenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of the lncRNA DKFZp434J0226 in PDAC. Methods Aberrantly expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs among six PDAC and paired non-tumorous tissues were profiled using microarray analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate DKFZp434J0226 expression in PDAC tissues. CCK-8 assay, wound-healing assay, soft agar colony formation assay, and transwell assay were performed to assess the invasiveness and proliferation of PDAC cells. Furthermore, RNA pull-down, immunofluorescence, RNA immunoprecipitation, and western blotting assays were performed to investigate the association between DKFZp434J0226 and SF3B6. Tumor xenografts in mice were used to test for tumor formation in vivo. Results In our study, 222 mRNAs and 128 lncRNAs were aberrantly expressed (≥ twofold change). Of these, 66 mRNAs and 53 lncRNAs were upregulated, while 75 lncRNAs and 156 mRNAs were downregulated. KEGG pathway analysis and the Gene ontology category indicated that these genes were associated with the regulation of mRNA alternative splicing and metabolic balance. Clinical analyses revealed that overexpression of DKFZp434J0226 was associated with worse tumor grading, frequent perineural invasion, advanced tumor-node-metastasis stage...
Li, J, Xie, Y, Zhao, P, Qin, Y, Oliver, BG, Tian, Y, Li, S, Wang, M & Liu, X 2021, 'A chinese herbal formula ameliorates COPD by inhibiting the inflammatory response via downregulation of p65, JNK, and p38', Phytomedicine, vol. 83, pp. 153475-153475.
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BackgroundBufei Yishen formula (BYF), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is an effective therapeutic strategy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of BYF and investigate its therapeutic mechanisms.MethodsA total of 134 patients completed the study: 68 patients treated by BYF combined with conventional Western medicine in the trial group; and 66 patients treated using conventional Western medicine in the control group. The efficacy of BYF was evaluated by a subgroup analysis of data obtained from a four-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial of comprehensive TCM interventions. A rat model of COPD was treated with the key active molecules (KAM) of BYF for 8 weeks. An in vitro model of COPD was also treated with KAM.ResultsPatients treated with BYF had reduced frequency of acute exacerbation of COPD (p < 0.001) and duration (p = 0.028), dyspnea scale (p = 0.007), 6-min walking distance (p = 0.048). There were no differences observed in forced vital capacity in one second (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and FEV1 percentage of the predicted value (FEV1%). The five KAM of BYF (KAM-BYF) improved lung function, including tidal volume, minute ventilation, peak expiratory flow, FVC, FEV0.1, and FEV0.3, and pathological changes in COPD rats. Treatment with KAM-BYF markedly decreased the levels of interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and MMP12 in serum and bronchial alveolar lavage fluid. In airway epithelial cells, KAM-BYF decreased the levels of TNF-α-induced IL8 and IL6. Finally, we discovered that the anti-inflammatory effects of KAM-BYF in COPD rats and BEAS-2Bs were mediated through inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling.ConclusionsBYF exerts beneficial effects in patients with COPD via inhibition of inflammation.
Li, J, Zhang, H, Luo, L, Li, H, He, J, Zu, H, Liu, L, Liu, H, Wang, F & Song, J 2021, 'Blocking polysulfides with a Janus Fe3C/N-CNF@RGO electrode via physiochemical confinement and catalytic conversion for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries', Journal of Materials Chemistry A, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 2205-2213.
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A novel Janus Fe3C/N-CNF@RGO electrode was successfully constructed, which realizes the co-existence of chemical immobilization, catalytic ability, and physical barrier in 3D conductive networks, enabling robust cycling stability of Li–S battery
Li, J, Zheng, M, Shimoni, O, Banks, WA, Bush, AI, Gamble, JR & Shi, B 2021, 'Development of Novel Therapeutics Targeting the Blood–Brain Barrier: From Barrier to Carrier', Advanced Science, vol. 8, no. 16, pp. 1-27.
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AbstractThe blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a highly specialized neurovascular unit, initially described as an intact barrier to prevent toxins, pathogens, and potentially harmful substances from entering the brain. An intact BBB is also critical for the maintenance of normal neuronal function. In cerebral vascular diseases and neurological disorders, the BBB can be disrupted, contributing to disease progression. While restoration of BBB integrity serves as a robust biomarker of better clinical outcomes, the restrictive nature of the intact BBB presents a major hurdle for delivery of therapeutics into the brain. Recent studies show that the BBB is actively engaged in crosstalk between neuronal and the circulatory systems, which defines another important role of the BBB: as an interfacing conduit that mediates communication between two sides of the BBB. This role has been subject to extensive investigation for brain‐targeted drug delivery and shows promising results. The dual roles of the BBB make it a unique target for drug development. Here, recent developments and novel strategies to target the BBB for therapeutic purposes are reviewed, from both barrier and carrier perspectives.
Li, M, Reimers, JR, Ford, MJ, Kobayashi, R & Amos, RD 2021, 'Accurate prediction of the properties of materials using the CAM‐B3LYP density functional', Journal of Computational Chemistry, vol. 42, no. 21, pp. 1486-1497.
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AbstractDensity functionals with asymptotic corrections to the long‐range potential provide entry‐level methods for calculations on molecules that can sustain charge transfer, but similar applications in materials science are rare. We describe an implementation of the CAM‐B3LYP range‐separated functional within the Vienna Ab‐initio Simulation Package (VASP) framework, together with its analytical functional derivatives. Results obtained for eight representative materials: aluminum, diamond, graphene, silicon, NaCl, MgO, 2D h‐BN, and 3D h‐BN, indicate that CAM‐B3LYP predictions embody mean‐absolute deviations (MAD) compared to HSE06 that are reduced by a factor of six for lattice parameters, four for quasiparticle band gaps, three for the lowest optical excitation energies, and six for exciton binding energies. Further, CAM‐B3LYP appears competitive compared to ab initio G0W0 and Bethe‐Salpeter equation approaches. The CAM‐B3LYP implementation in VASP was verified by comparison of optimized geometries and reaction energies for isolated molecules taken from the ACCDB database, evaluated in large periodic unit cells, to analogous results obtained using Gaussian basis sets. Using standard GW pseudopotentials and energy cutoffs for the plane‐wave calculations and the aug‐cc‐pV5Z basis set for the atomic‐basis ones, the MAD in energy for 1738 chemical reactions was 0.34 kcal mol−1, while for 480 unique bond lengths this was 0.0036 Å; these values reduced to 0.28 kcal mol−1 (largest error 0.94 kcal mol−1) and 0.0009 Å by increasing the plane‐wave cutoff energy to 850 eV.
Li, P, Guo, X, Zang, R, Wang, S, Zuo, Y, Man, Z, Li, P, Liu, S & Wang, G 2021, 'Nanoconfined SnO2/SnSe2 heterostructures in N-doped carbon nanotubes for high-performance sodium-ion batteries', Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 418, pp. 129501-129501.
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Tin-based compounds are promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), owing to their high theoretical capacities and relatively low sodiation potential. However, their high-rate performance and cycle life-span are severely impeded by the inherent sluggish reaction kinetics and large structural change during charging and discharging. Herein, we report a composite anode consisting of SnO2/SnSe2 heterostructure nanoparticles uniformly encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanotubes (SnO2/SnSe2@C) for high-performance SIBs. The hollow tube nano-architecture not only accommodates the volume expansion of SnO2/SnSe2, but also facilitates the electrolyte penetration and shortens Na+ pathways. Meanwhile, the N-doped carbon shells provide highways for electron transport and contribute to the total capacity. More importantly, the construction of heterostructures boosts the charge transfer kinetics and further stabilizes the electrode structure by the additional confining effects of the increased crystalline boundaries. Benefiting from the synergistic effects between the elaborately-designed electrode architecture and the incorporation of heterostructures, the SnO2/SnSe2@C composite delivered a superior rate capability (322 mAh g−1 at 4 A g−1) and remarkable cycling stability with a capacity retention of 87.7% after 1000 cycles at 2 A g−1.
Li, S, Huang, J, Ren, L, Jiang, W, Wang, M, Zhuang, L, Zheng, Q, Yang, R, Zeng, Y, Luu, LDW, Wang, Y & Tai, J 2021, 'A one-step, one-pot CRISPR nucleic acid detection platform (CRISPR-top): Application for the diagnosis of COVID-19', Talanta, vol. 233, pp. 122591-122591.
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The existing CRISPR-mediated diagnostic tests require a two-step procedure (DNA or RNA amplification followed by CRISPR-mediated sequence-specific detection) for nucleic acid detection, which increases complexity and the risk of sample cross-contamination. Here, we report a new CRISPR-mediated test, called CRISPR-top (CRISPR-mediated testing in one-pot), which integrates simultaneous target pre-amplification with CRISPR/cas12b-mediated detection into a one-pot reaction mixture, performed at a constant temperature. The novel CRISPR-top assay was applied to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent for COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). COVID-19 CRISPR-top targets the ORF1ab (opening reading frame 1a/b) and NP (nucleoprotein) genes of SARS-CoV-2, and operates at 59 °C for 40 min with minimal instrument. The COVID-19 CRISPR-top assay can return results within 60-min and is easily interpreted by visual fluorescence or lateral flow readouts. The analytical limit of detection (LoD) for COVID-19 CRISPR-top is 10 copies (for each detection target) per reaction with no cross-reactivity observed from non-SARS-CoV-2 templates. Among clinically collected non-COVID-19 samples, the assay's specificity was 100% (80/80 oropharynx swab samples). Among 52 COVID-19 positive clinical samples collected, the COVID-19 CRISPR-top assay yielded 38 (73.1%) positive results using fluorescence readout and 35 (67.3%) positive results with lateral-flow readout. These diagnostic results were similar to those obtained using RT-PCR (34 positive (65.4%)). These data indicate that COVID-19 CRISPR-top is a simple, rapid, accurate and highly sensitive method for SARS-CoV-2 detection which can be used in the clinic, field laboratories and primary care facilities in resource-challenged settings.
Li, X, Jin, D, Zhu, Y, Liu, L, Qiao, Y, Qian, Y, Tian, J, Jiang, B, Hou, C, Geng, J, Li, X, Gao, X, Ma, Y, Wang, S, Zong, J & Qin, Y 2021, 'Quantitative susceptibility mapping to evaluate brain iron deposition and its correlation with physiological parameters in hypertensive patients', Annals of Translational Medicine, vol. 9, no. 20, pp. 1582-1582.
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Li, Y, Faiz, A, Moshage, H, Schubert, R, Schilling, L & Kamps, JA 2021, 'Comparative transcriptome analysis of inner blood-retinal barrier and blood–brain barrier in rats', Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1.
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AbstractAlthough retinal microvessels (RMVs) and brain microvessels (BMVs) are closely related in their developmental and share similar blood-neural barriers, studies have reported markedly different responses to stressors such as diabetes. Therefore, we hypothesized that RMVs and BMVs will display substantial differences in gene expression levels even though they are of the same embryological origin. In this study, both RMVs and BMVs were mechanically isolated from rats. Full retinal and brain tissue samples (RT, BT) were collected for comparisons. Total RNA extracted from these four groups were processed on Affymetrix rat 2.0 microarray Chips. The transcriptional profiles of these tissues were then analyzed. In the present paper we looked at differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in RMVs (against RT) and BMVs (against BT) using a rather conservative threshold value of ≥ ± twofold change and a false discovery rate corrected for multiple comparisons (p < 0.05). In RMVs a total of 1559 DEGs were found, of which 1004 genes were higher expressed in RMVs than in RT. Moreover, 4244 DEGs between BMVs and BT were identified, of which 1956 genes were ≥ twofold enriched in BMVs. Using these DEGs, we comprehensively analyzed the actual expression levels and highlighted their involvement in critical functional structures in RMVs and BMVs, such as junctional complex, transporters and signaling pathways. Our work provides for the first time the transcriptional profiles of rat RMVs and BMVs. These results may help to understand why retina and brain microvasculature show different susceptibilities to stressors, and they might even provide new insight for pharmacological interventions.
Li, Y, Li, J, Yuan, J, Zhao, Y, Zhang, J, Liu, H, Wang, F, Tang, J & Song, J 2021, '3D CoS2/rGO aerogel as trapping-catalyst sulfur host to promote polysulfide conversion for stable Li-S batteries', Journal of Alloys and Compounds, vol. 873, pp. 159780-159780.
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Li, Y, Yang, W, Yang, W, Huang, Y, Wang, G, Xu, C, Kang, F & Dong, L 2021, 'High-performance zinc-ion batteries enabled by electrochemically induced transformation of vanadium oxide cathodes', Journal of Energy Chemistry, vol. 60, pp. 233-240.
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Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have become a research hotspot in recent years, due to their huge potential for high-energy, fast-rate, safe and low-cost energy storage. To realize good electrochemical properties of ZIBs, cathode materials with prominent Zn2+ storage capability are highly needed. Herein, we report a promising ZIB cathode material based on electrochemically induced transformation of vanadium oxides. Specifically, K2V6O16·1.5H2O nanofibers were synthesized through a simple stirring method at near room temperature and then used as cathode materials for ZIBs in different electrolytes. The cathode presented superior Zn2+ storage capability in Zn(OTf)2 aqueous electrolyte, including high capacity of 321 mAh/g, fast charge/discharge ability (96 mAh/g delivered in 35 s), high energy density of 235 Wh/kg and good cycling performance. Mechanism analysis evidenced that in Zn(OTf)2 electrolyte, Zn2+ intercalation in the first discharge process promoted K2V6O16·1.5H2O nanofibers to transform into Zn3+xV2O7(OH)2·2H2O nanoflakes, and the latter served as the Zn2+-storage host in subsequent charge/discharge processes. Benefiting from open-framework crystal structure and sufficiently exposed surface, the Zn3+xV2O7(OH)2·2H2O nanoflakes exhibited high Zn2+ diffusion coefficient, smaller charge-transfer resistance and good reversibility of Zn2+ intercalation/de-intercalation, thus leading to superior electrochemical performance. While in ZnSO4 aqueous electrolyte, the cathode material cannot sufficiently transform into Zn3+xV2O7(OH)2·2H2O, thereby corresponding to inferior electrochemical behaviors. Underlying mechanism and influencing factors of such a transformation phenomenon was also explored. This work not only reports a high-performance ZIB cathode material based on electrochemically induced transformation of vanadium oxides, but also provides new insights into Zn2+-storage electrochemistry.
Li, Y, Yang, W, Yang, W, Wang, Z, Rong, J, Wang, G, Xu, C, Kang, F & Dong, L 2021, 'Towards High-Energy and Anti-Self-Discharge Zn-Ion Hybrid Supercapacitors with New Understanding of the Electrochemistry', Nano-Micro Letters, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 1-16.
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AbstractAqueous Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSs) are increasingly being studied as a novel electrochemical energy storage system with prominent electrochemical performance, high safety and low cost. Herein, high-energy and anti-self-discharge ZHSs are realized based on the fibrous carbon cathodes with hierarchically porous surface and O/N heteroatom functional groups. Hierarchically porous surface of the fabricated free-standing fibrous carbon cathodes not only provides abundant active sites for divalent ion storage, but also optimizes ion transport kinetics. Consequently, the cathodes show a high gravimetric capacity of 156 mAh g−1, superior rate capability (79 mAh g−1 with a very short charge/discharge time of 14 s) and exceptional cycling stability. Meanwhile, hierarchical pore structure and suitable surface functional groups of the cathodes endow ZHSs with a high energy density of 127 Wh kg−1, a high power density of 15.3 kW kg−1 and good anti-self-discharge performance. Mechanism investigation reveals that ZHS electrochemistry involves cation adsorption/desorption and Zn4SO4(OH)6·5H2O formation/dissolution at low voltage and anion adsorption/desorption at high voltage on carbon cathodes. The roles of these reactions in energy storage of ZHSs are elucidated. This work not only paves a way for high-performance cathode materials of ZHSs, but also provides a deeper understanding of ZHS electrochemistry.
Liao, J, Zhou, J, Song, Y, Liu, B, Chen, Y, Wang, F, Chen, C, Lin, J, Chen, X, Lu, J & Jin, D 2021, 'Preselectable Optical Fingerprints of Heterogeneous Upconversion Nanoparticles', Nano Letters, vol. 21, no. 18, pp. 7659-7668.
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The control in optical uniformity of single nanoparticles and tuning their diversity in multiple dimensions, dot to dot, holds the key to unlocking nanoscale applications. Here we report that the entire lifetime profile of the single upconversion nanoparticle (τ2 profile) can be resolved by confocal, wide-field, and super-resolution microscopy techniques. The advances in both spatial and temporal resolutions push the limit of optical multiplexing from microscale to nanoscale. We further demonstrate that the time-domain optical fingerprints can be created by utilizing nanophotonic upconversion schemes, including interfacial energy migration, concentration dependency, energy transfer, and isolation of surface quenchers. We exemplify that three multiple dimensions, including the excitation wavelength, emission color, and τ2 profile, can be built into the nanoscale derivative τ2-dots. Creating a vast library of individually preselectable nanotags opens up a new horizon for diverse applications, spanning from sub-diffraction-limit data storage to high-throughput single-molecule digital assays and super-resolution imaging.
Liao, J, Zhou, J, Song, Y, Liu, B, Lu, J & Jin, D 2021, 'Optical Fingerprint Classification of Single Upconversion Nanoparticles by Deep Learning', The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, vol. 12, no. 41, pp. 10242-10248.
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Highly controlled synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) can be achieved in the heterogeneous design, so that a library of optical properties can be arbitrarily produced by depositing multiple lanthanide ions. Such a control offers the potential in creating nanoscale barcodes carrying high-capacity information. With the increasing creation of optical information, it poses more challenges in decoding them in an accurate, high-throughput, and speedy fashion. Here, we reported that the deep-learning approach can recognize the complexity of the optical fingerprints from different UCNPs. Under a wide-field microscope, the lifetime profiles of hundreds of single nanoparticles can be collected at once, which offers a sufficient amount of data to develop deep-learning algorithms. We demonstrated that high accuracies of over 90% can be achieved in classifying 14 kinds of UCNPs. This work suggests new opportunities in handling the diverse properties of nanoscale optical barcodes toward the establishment of vast luminescent information carriers.
Liao, Y, Ithurbide, S, Evenhuis, C, Löwe, J & Duggin, IG 2021, 'Cell division in the archaeon Haloferax volcanii relies on two FtsZ proteins with distinct functions in division ring assembly and constriction', Nature Microbiology, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 594-605.
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In bacteria, the tubulin homologue FtsZ assembles a cytokinetic ring, termed the Z ring, and plays a key role in the machinery that constricts to divide the cells. Many archaea encode two FtsZ proteins from distinct families, FtsZ1 and FtsZ2, with previously unclear functions. Here, we show that Haloferax volcanii cannot divide properly without either or both FtsZ proteins, but DNA replication continues and cells proliferate in alternative ways, such as blebbing and fragmentation, via remarkable envelope plasticity. FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 colocalize to form the dynamic division ring. However, FtsZ1 can assemble rings independent of FtsZ2, and stabilizes FtsZ2 in the ring, whereas FtsZ2 functions primarily in the constriction mechanism. FtsZ1 also influenced cell shape, suggesting it forms a hub-like platform at midcell for the assembly of shape-related systems too. Both FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 are widespread in archaea with a single S-layer envelope, but archaea with a pseudomurein wall and division septum only have FtsZ1. FtsZ1 is therefore likely to provide a fundamental recruitment role in diverse archaea, and FtsZ2 is required for constriction of a flexible S-layer envelope, where an internal constriction force might dominate the division mechanism, in contrast with the single-FtsZ bacteria and archaea that divide primarily by wall ingrowth.
Liao, Y, Vogel, V, Hauber, S, Bartel, J, Alkhnbashi, OS, Maaß, S, Schwarz, TS, Backofen, R, Becher, D, Duggin, IG & Marchfelder, A 2021, 'CdrS Is a Global Transcriptional Regulator Influencing Cell Division in Haloferax volcanii', mBio, vol. 12, no. 4.
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Cell division is a central mechanism of life and is essential for growth and development. Members of the Bacteria and Eukarya have different mechanisms for cell division, which have been studied in detail.
Lin, G 2021, 'Magnetic particles for multidimensional in vitro bioanalysis', VIEW, vol. 2, no. 5, pp. 20200076-20200076.
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AbstractMultidimensional or multiplex bioanalysis represents a crucial approach to improve diagnostic precision, increase assay throughput and advance fundamental discoveries in analytical industry, life science, and nanomedicine. Along this line, bio‐interfacing magnetic particles have been playing an important role. Fully exploiting the properties of magnetic particles is the key to tailoring recent technology development for better translational outcomes. In this mini‐review, typical magneto‐physical dimensions of magnetic particles are introduced. Recent progress of implementing these dimensions with advanced sensor and actuator technologies in multiplex bioanalysis is discussed. Outlooks on potential biomedical applications and challenges are provided.
Lin, G & Jin, D 2021, 'Responsive Sensors of Upconversion Nanoparticles', ACS Sensors, vol. 6, no. 12, pp. 4272-4282.
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Upconversion nanoparticles are a class of luminescent materials that convert longer-wavelength near-infrared photons into visible and ultraviolet emissions. They can respond to various external stimuli, which underpins many opportunities for developing the next generation of sensing technologies. In this perspective, the unique stimuli-responsive properties of upconverting nanoparticles are introduced, and their recent implementations in sensing are summarized. Promising material development strategies for enhancing the key sensing merits, including intrinsic sensitivity, biocompatibility and modality, are identified and discussed. The outlooks on future technological developments, novel sensing concepts, and applications of nanoscale upconversion sensors are provided.
Lin, G, Liu, Y, Huang, G, Chen, Y, Makarov, D, Lin, J, Quan, Z & Jin, D 2021, '3D Rotation‐Trackable and Differentiable Micromachines with Dimer‐Type Structures for Dynamic Bioanalysis', Advanced Intelligent Systems, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 2170020-2170020.
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Lin, G, Liu, Y, Huang, G, Chen, Y, Makarov, D, Lin, J, Quan, Z & Jin, D 2021, '3D Rotation‐Trackable and Differentiable Micromachines with Dimer‐Type Structures for Dynamic Bioanalysis', Advanced Intelligent Systems, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 2000205-2000205.
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Utilizing the magnetic interactions between microparticle building blocks allows creating long‐range ordered structures and constructing smart multifunctional systems at different scales. The elaborate control over the inter‐particle magnetic coupling interaction is entailed to unlock new magnetoactuation functionalities. Herein, dimer‐type microstructures consisting of a pair of magnetic emulsions with tailorable dimension and magnetic coupling strength are fabricated using a microfluidic emulsion‐templated assembly approach. The magnetite nanoparticles dispersed in vinylbenzene monomers are partitioned into a pair of emulsions with conserved volume, which are wrapped by an aqueous hydrogel shell and finally polymerized to form discrete structures. Tunable synchronous–asynchronous rotation over 60 dB is unlocked in magnetic dimers, which is shown to be dependent on the magnetic moments induced. This leads to a new class of magnetic actuators for the parallelized assay of distinctive virus DNAs and the dynamic optical evaluation of 3D cell cultures. The work suggests a new perspective to design smart multifunctional microstructures and devices by exploring their natural variance in magnetic coupling.
Liu Chung Ming, C, Sesperez, K, Ben-Sefer, E, Arpon, D, McGrath, K, McClements, L & Gentile, C 2021, 'Considerations to Model Heart Disease in Women with Preeclampsia and Cardiovascular Disease', Cells, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 899-899.
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Preeclampsia is a multifactorial cardiovascular disorder diagnosed after 20 weeks of gestation, and is the leading cause of death for both mothers and babies in pregnancy. The pathophysiology remains poorly understood due to the variability and unpredictability of disease manifestation when studied in animal models. After preeclampsia, both mothers and offspring have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including myocardial infarction or heart attack and heart failure (HF). Myocardial infarction is an acute myocardial damage that can be treated through reperfusion; however, this therapeutic approach leads to ischemic/reperfusion injury (IRI), often leading to HF. In this review, we compared the current in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo model systems used to study preeclampsia, IRI and HF. Future studies aiming at evaluating CVD in preeclampsia patients could benefit from novel models that better mimic the complex scenario described in this article.
Liu, D, Jin, Y, Dong, X, Liu, L, Jin, D, Capobianco, JA & Shen, D 2021, 'Low-Temperature-Induced Controllable Transversal Shell Growth of NaLnF4 Nanocrystals', Nanomaterials, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 654-654.
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Highly controllable anisotropic shell growth is essential for further engineering the function and properties of lanthanide-doped luminescence nanocrystals, especially in some of the advanced applications such as multi-mode bioimaging, security coding and three-dimensional (3D) display. However, the understanding of the transversal shell growth mechanism is still limited today, because the shell growth direction is impacted by multiple complex factors, such as the anisotropy of surface ligand-binding energy, anisotropic core–shell lattice mismatch, the size of cores and varied shell crystalline stability. Herein, we report a highly controlled transversal shell growth method for hexagonal sodium rare-earth tetrafluoride (β-NaLnF4) nanocrystals. Exploiting the relationship between reaction temperature and shell growth direction, we found that the shell growth direction could be tuned from longitudinal to transversal by decreasing the reaction temperature from 310 °C to 280 °C. In addition to the reaction temperature, we also discussed the roles of other factors in the transversal shell growth of nanocrystals. A suitable core size and a relative lower shell precursor concentration could promote transversal shell growth, although different shell hosts played a minor role in changing the shell growth direction.
Liu, D, Xu, X, Du, Y, Liao, J, Wen, S, Dong, X, Jin, Y, Liu, L, Jin, D, Capobianco, JA & Shen, D 2021, 'Reconstructing the Surface Structure of NaREF4 Upconversion Nanocrystals with a Novel K+ Treatment', Chemistry of Materials, vol. 33, no. 7, pp. 2548-2556.
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Property of the nanocrystals' surface structure plays a key role in developing novel nanomaterials with high performance and new functionalities. Conventional methods of nanocrystal surface engineering are commonly based on tuning the synthesis reaction parameters or growing core-shell structures, which usually results in increasing the size of the nanoparticles. Here, we report an approach to tailoring the surface crystalline structure of β-NaYF4 nanocrystals by reheating the nanocrystals in a K+-rich environment of the oleic acid-1-octadecene (OA-ODE) system. We found that the crystal surface stability of nanocrystals was decreased in the K+-rich solution, which reconstructs the nanocrystals' surface into a porous surface structure. With a systematic design of experiments, the roles of the cations, such as K+, K+-Gd3+, and Na+-Y3+, are individually identified, which leads to a reformation of the surface structure of the hexagonal NaYF4 nanocrystal into different forms, e.g., a mesostructured, spherical, and diamond surface. The technique of tailoring the surface crystalline structures will provide new insight for the shape and surface-dependent property studies and luminescence enhancement without a size increase.
Liu, G, Philp, AM, Corte, T, Travis, MA, Schilter, H, Hansbro, NG, Burns, CJ, Eapen, MS, Sohal, SS, Burgess, JK & Hansbro, PM 2021, 'Therapeutic targets in lung tissue remodelling and fibrosis', Pharmacology & Therapeutics, vol. 225, pp. 107839-107839.
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Structural changes involving tissue remodelling and fibrosis are major features of many pulmonary diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is a key factor in the development of tissue remodelling that results in symptoms and impaired lung function in these diseases. Tissue remodelling in the lungs is complex and differs between compartments. Some pathways are common but tissue remodelling around the airways and in the parenchyma have different morphologies. Hence it is critical to evaluate both common fibrotic pathways and those that are specific to different compartments; thereby expanding the understanding of the pathogenesis of fibrosis and remodelling in the airways and parenchyma in asthma, COPD and IPF with a view to developing therapeutic strategies for each. Here we review the current understanding of remodelling features and underlying mechanisms in these major respiratory diseases. The differences and similarities of remodelling are used to highlight potential common therapeutic targets and strategies. One central pathway in remodelling processes involves transforming growth factor (TGF)-β induced fibroblast activation and myofibroblast differentiation that increases ECM production. The current treatments and clinical trials targeting remodelling are described, as well as potential future directions. These endeavours are indicative of the renewed effort and optimism for drug discovery targeting tissue remodelling and fibrosis.
Liu, H, Lai, W-H, Yang, H-L, Zhu, Y-F, Lei, Y-J, Zhao, L, Peng, J, Wang, Y-X, Chou, S-L & Liu, H-K 2021, 'Efficient separators with fast Li-ion transfer and high polysulfide entrapment for superior lithium-sulfur batteries', Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 408, pp. 127348-127348.
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Liu, H, Lai, W-H, Yang, Q, Lei, Y, Wu, C, Wang, N, Wang, Y-X, Chou, S-L, Liu, HK & Dou, SX 2021, 'Understanding Sulfur Redox Mechanisms in Different Electrolytes for Room-Temperature Na–S Batteries', Nano-Micro Letters, vol. 13, no. 1.
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Abstract This work reports influence of two different electrolytes, carbonate ester and ether electrolytes, on the sulfur redox reactions in room-temperature Na–S batteries. Two sulfur cathodes with different S loading ratio and status are investigated. A sulfur-rich composite with most sulfur dispersed on the surface of a carbon host can realize a high loading ratio (72% S). In contrast, a confined sulfur sample can encapsulate S into the pores of the carbon host with a low loading ratio (44% S). In carbonate ester electrolyte, only the sulfur trapped in porous structures is active via ‘solid–solid’ behavior during cycling. The S cathode with high surface sulfur shows poor reversible capacity because of the severe side reactions between the surface polysulfides and the carbonate ester solvents. To improve the capacity of the sulfur-rich cathode, ether electrolyte with NaNO3 additive is explored to realize a ‘solid–liquid’ sulfur redox process and confine the shuttle effect of the dissolved polysulfides. As a result, the sulfur-rich cathode achieved high reversible capacity (483 mAh g−1), corresponding to a specific energy of 362 Wh kg−1 after 200 cycles, shedding light on the use of ether electrolyte for high-loading sulfur cathode.
Liu, Q, Wang, Y, Yang, X, Zhou, D, Wang, X, Jaumaux, P, Kang, F, Li, B, Ji, X & Wang, G 2021, 'Rechargeable anion-shuttle batteries for low-cost energy storage', Chem, vol. 7, no. 8, pp. 1993-2021.
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As promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, rechargeable anion-shuttle batteries (ASBs) with anions as charge carriers stand out because of their low cost, long cyclic lifetime, and/or high energy density. In this review, we provide for the first time, comprehensive insights into the anion shuttling mechanisms of ASBs, including anion-based rocking-chair batteries (ARBs), dual-ion batteries (DIBs), including insertion-type, conversion-type, and conversion-insertion-type, and reverse dual-ion batteries (RDIBs). Thereafter, we review the latest progresses and challenges regarding electrode materials and electrolytes for ASBs. In addition, we summarize the existing dilemmas of ASBs and outline the perspective of ASB technology for future grid storage.
Liu, Y, Lin, G & Jin, D 2021, 'Off-axis gyration induces large-area circular motion of anisotropic microparticles in a dynamic magnetic trap', Applied Physics Letters, vol. 119, no. 3, pp. 034102-034102.
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Magnetic tweezers are crucial for single-molecule and atomic characterization and biomedical isolation of microparticle carriers. The trapping component of magnetic tweezing can be reliant on a magnetic potential well that can confine the relevant species to a localized region. Here, we report that magnetic microparticles with tailored anisotropy can transition from localized off-axis gyration to large-area locomotion in a rotating magnetic trap. The microparticles, consisting of assemblies of magnetic cores, are observed to either rotate about its structural geometric center or gyrate about one of the magnetic cores and the switching of which can be modulated by the external field. Raising the magnetic field strength above a threshold, the particles can go beyond the traditional synchronous-rotation and asynchronous-oscillation modes and into a scenario of large-area circular motion. This results in peculiar retrograde locomotion related to the magnetization maxima of the microparticle. Our finding suggests the important role of the microparticle's magnetic morphology in the controlled transport of microparticles and developing smart micro-actuators and micro-robot devices.
Liu, Y, Lin, G, Bao, G, Guan, M, Yang, L, Liu, Y, Wang, D, Zhang, X, Liao, J, Fang, G, Di, X, Huang, G, Zhou, J, Cheng, YY & Jin, D 2021, 'Stratified Disk Microrobots with Dynamic Maneuverability and Proton-Activatable Luminescence for in Vivo Imaging', ACS Nano, vol. 15, no. 12, pp. 19924-19937.
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Microrobots can expand our abilities to access remote, confined, and enclosed spaces. Their potential applications inside our body are obvious, e.g., to diagnose diseases, deliver medicine, and monitor treatment efficacy. However, critical requirements exist in relation to their operations in gastrointestinal environments, including resistance to strong gastric acid, responsivity to a narrow proton variation window, and locomotion in confined cavities with hierarchical terrains. Here, we report a proton-activatable microrobot to enable real-time, repeated, and site-selective pH sensing and monitoring in physiological relevant environments. This is achieved by stratifying a hydrogel disk to combine a range of functional nanomaterials, including proton-responsive molecular switches, upconversion nanoparticles, and near-infrared (NIR) emitters. By leveraging the 3D magnetic gradient fields and the anisotropic composition, the microrobot can be steered to locomote as a gyrating 'Euler's disk', i.e., aslant relative to the surface and along its low-friction outer circumference, exhibiting a high motility of up to 60 body lengths/s. The enhanced magnetomotility can boost the pH-sensing kinetics by 2-fold. The fluorescence of the molecular switch can respond to pH variations with over 600-fold enhancement when the pH decreases from 8 to 1, and the integration of upconversion nanoparticles further allows both the efficient sensitization of NIR light through deep tissue and energy transfer to activate the pH probes. Moreover, the embedded down-shifting NIR emitters provide sufficient contrast for imaging of a single microrobot inside a live mouse. This work suggests great potential in developing multifunctional microrobots to perform generic site-selective tasks in vivo.
Liu, Y, Zhou, Z, Wang, F, Kewes, G, Wen, S, Burger, S, Ebrahimi Wakiani, M, Xi, P, Yang, J, Yang, X, Benson, O & Jin, D 2021, 'Axial localization and tracking of self-interference nanoparticles by lateral point spread functions', Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 1-9.
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AbstractSub-diffraction limited localization of fluorescent emitters is a key goal of microscopy imaging. Here, we report that single upconversion nanoparticles, containing multiple emission centres with random orientations, can generate a series of unique, bright and position-sensitive patterns in the spatial domain when placed on top of a mirror. Supported by our numerical simulation, we attribute this effect to the sum of each single emitter’s interference with its own mirror image. As a result, this configuration generates a series of sophisticated far-field point spread functions (PSFs), e.g. in Gaussian, doughnut and archery target shapes, strongly dependent on the phase difference between the emitter and its image. In this way, the axial locations of nanoparticles are transferred into far-field patterns. We demonstrate a real-time distance sensing technology with a localization accuracy of 2.8 nm, according to the atomic force microscope (AFM) characterization values, smaller than 1/350 of the excitation wavelength.
Liu, Z, Li, J, Yang, J, Ma, H, Wang, C, Guo, X & Wang, G 2021, 'Preparation of a Novel g-C3N4/Sn/N-doped Carbon Composite for Sodium Storage', Gaodeng Xuexiao Huaxue Xuebao/Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 633-642.
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Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs) based on Sn-based anodes have attracted increasing attention due to their high theoretical capacity(847 mA•h/g), high electrical conductivity and suitable operation potential. Unfortunately, the huge structural change upon cycling often causes particle pulverization and rapid capacity decay. In this work, ultrafine Sn nanoparticles with dual protection from graphitic carbon nitride(g-C3N4) and polydopamine derived N-doped carbon(g-C3N4/Sn/NC) were successfully fabricated through a designed strategy. Generally, the introduction of g-C3N4 and NC can dramatically accelerate the transport of electrons/ions as well as the reaction dynamics, thus contributing to the alloying reaction between Sn and Na+. Importantly, the ultrafine Sn as well as the dual buffering matrices can efficiently maintain the integrity of electrode upon cycling, guaranteeing the superior electrochemical performance. Benefitting from the structural advantages inhe-rited from the ultrafine Sn nanoparticles and dual protection scaffolds, the as-obtained g-C3N4/Sn/NC displays excellent sodium storage performances, with high reversible capacity(450.7 mA•h/g at 0.5 A/g after 100 cycles), remarkable rate capability(388.3 mA•h/g at 1.0 A/g) and stable long-term cycling stability(363.3 mA•h/g after 400 cycles at 1.0 A/g).
Lockwood, TE, Gonzalez de Vega, R & Clases, D 2021, 'An interactive Python-based data processing platform for single particle and single cell ICP-MS', Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, vol. 36, no. 11, pp. 2536-2544.
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A data processing platform was developed for the analysis of single particle and single cell ICP-MS data sets. All functions are embedded in a GUI and enable signal recognition, accumulation and calibration via dedicated pathways and filters.
Lockwood, TE, Westerhausen, MT & Doble, PA 2021, 'Pew2: Open-Source Imaging Software for Laser Ablation–Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry', Analytical Chemistry, vol. 93, no. 30, pp. 10418-10423.
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Open-sourced software is a key component of the mass spectrometry imaging field, where transparency in data processing is vital. Imaging of trace elements and immunohistochemically labeled biomolecules in tissue sections is typically performed using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). However, efficient and facile processing of images is hampered by a lack of verifiable and user-friendly software that supports multiple LA-ICP-MS platforms. In this technical note, we introduce Pew2, a LA-ICP-MS specific and feature-rich open-source image processing software that is compatible with common ICP-MS vendors. Pew2 is designed to be fast and easy to use and adheres to modern visualization philosophies to maximize productivity and to minimize data interpretation errors and image anomalies.
Lodge, CJ, Lowe, AJ, Milanzi, E, Bowatte, G, Abramson, MJ, Tsimiklis, H, Axelrad, C, Robertson, B, Darling, AE, Svanes, C, Wjst, M, Dharmage, SC & Bode, L 2021, 'Human milk oligosaccharide profiles and allergic disease up to 18 years', Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 147, no. 3, pp. 1041-1048.
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BACKGROUND:Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) are a diverse range of sugars secreted in breast milk that have direct and indirect effects on immunity. The profiles of HMOs produced differ between mothers. OBJECTIVE:We sought to determine the relationship between maternal HMO profiles and offspring allergic diseases up to age 18 years. METHODS:Colostrum and early lactation milk samples were collected from 285 mothers enrolled in a high-allergy-risk birth cohort, the Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study. Nineteen HMOs were measured. Profiles/patterns of maternal HMOs were determined using LCA. Details of allergic disease outcomes including sensitization, wheeze, asthma, and eczema were collected at multiple follow-ups up to age 18 years. Adjusted logistic regression analyses and generalized estimating equations were used to determine the relationship between HMO profiles and allergy. RESULTS:The levels of several HMOs were highly correlated with each other. LCA determined 7 distinct maternal milk profiles with memberships of 10% and 20%. Compared with offspring exposed to the neutral Lewis HMO profile, exposure to acidic Lewis HMOs was associated with a higher risk of allergic disease and asthma over childhood (odds ratio asthma at 18 years, 5.82; 95% CI, 1.59-21.23), whereas exposure to the acidic-predominant profile was associated with a reduced risk of food sensitization (OR at 12 years, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01-0.67). CONCLUSIONS:In this high-allergy-risk birth cohort, some profiles of HMOs were associated with increased and some with decreased allergic disease risks over childhood. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and realize the potential for intervention.
Loering, S, Cameron, GJM, Bhatt, NP, Belz, GT, Foster, PS, Hansbro, PM & Starkey, MR 2021, 'Differences in pulmonary group 2 innate lymphoid cells are dependent on mouse age, sex and strain', Immunology & Cell Biology, vol. 99, no. 5, pp. 542-551.
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AbstractInnate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are resident in the lung and are involved in both the maintenance of homeostasis and the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases. In this study, murine lung ILCs were characterized using flow cytometry and the impact of mouse age, sex and strain were assessed. Lung ILCs were found as early as postnatal day 4 and numbers peaked at 2 weeks, and then decreased as the lung matured. During postnatal lung development, ILC expressed differential amounts of group 2 ILC (ILC2)‐associated cell surface antigens including ST2, CD90.2 and ICOS. Using Il5venusIl13td‐tomato dual reporter mice, neonates were found to have increased constitutive interleukin (IL)‐13 expression compared with adult mice. Neonates and adults had similar ratios of IL‐5+CD45+ leukocytes; however, these cells were mostly composed of ILCs in neonates and T cells in adults. Sex‐specific differences in ILC numbers were also observed, with females having greater numbers of lung ILCs than males in both neonatal and adult mice. Female lung ILCs also expressed higher levels of ICOS and decreased KLRG1. Mouse strain also impacted on lung ILCs with BALB/c mice having more ILCs in the lung and increased expression of ST2 and ICOS compared with C57BL/6J mice. Collectively, these data show that lung ILC numbers, cell surface antigen expression, IL‐5 and IL‐13 levels differed between neonatal and adult lung ILCs. In addition, cell surface antigens commonly used for ILC2 quantification, such as ST2, CD90.2 and ICOS, differ depending on age, sex and strain and these are important considerations for consistent universal identification of lung ILC2s.
López-Denman, AJ, Tuipulotu, DE, Ross, JB, Trenerry, AM, White, PA & Mackenzie, JM 2021, 'Nuclear localisation of West Nile virus NS5 protein modulates host gene expression', Virology, vol. 559, pp. 131-144.
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Lu, J, Jaumaux, P, Wang, T, Wang, C & Wang, G 2021, 'Recent progress in quasi-solid and solid polymer electrolytes for multivalent metal-ion batteries', Journal of Materials Chemistry A, vol. 9, no. 43, pp. 24175-24194.
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The increasing urgency of the energy source crisis has accelerated the application of polymers in energy storage for renewable energy.
Lu, Z, Van Eeckhoutte, HP, Liu, G, Nair, PM, Jones, B, Gillis, CM, Nalkurthi, BC, Verhamme, F, Buyle-Huybrecht, T, Vandenabeele, P, Vanden Berghe, T, Brusselle, GG, Horvat, JC, Murphy, JM, Wark, PA, Bracke, KR, Fricker, M & Hansbro, PM 2021, 'Necroptosis Signaling Promotes Inflammation, Airway Remodeling, and Emphysema in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease', American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 204, no. 6, pp. 667-681.
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Rationale: Necroptosis, mediated by RIPK3 (receptor-interacting protein kinase 3) and MLKL (mixed lineage kinase domain-like), is a form of regulated necrosis that can drive tissue inflammation and destruction; however, its contribution to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis is poorly understood. Objectives: To determine the role of necroptosis in COPD. Methods: Total and active (phosphorylated) RIPK3 and MLKL were measured in the lung tissue of patients with COPD and control subjects without COPD. Necroptosis-related mRNA and proteins as well as cell death were examined in lungs and pulmonary macrophages of mice with cigarette smoke (CS)-induced experimental COPD. The responses of Ripk3-/- and Mlkl-/- mice to acute and chronic CS exposure were compared with those of wild-type mice. The combined inhibition of apoptosis (with the pan-caspase inhibitor quinoline-Val-Asp-difluorophenoxymethylketone [qVD-OPh]) and necroptosis (with deletion of Mlkl in mice) was assessed. Measurements and Main Results: The total MLKL protein in the epithelium and macrophages and the pRIPK3 and pMLKL in lung tissue were increased in patients with severe COPD compared with never-smokers or smoker control subjects without COPD. Necroptosis-related mRNA and protein levels were increased in the lungs and macrophages in CS-exposed mice and experimental COPD. Ripk3 or Mlkl deletion prevented airway inflammation upon acute CS exposure. Ripk3 deficiency reduced airway inflammation and remodeling as well as the development of emphysematous pathology after chronic CS exposure. Mlkl deletion and qVD-OPh treatment reduced chronic CS-induced airway inflammation, but only Mlkl deletion prevented airway remodeling and emphysema. Ripk3 or Mlkl deletion and qVD-OPh treatment reduced CS-induced lung-cell death. Conclusions: Necroptosis is induced by CS exposure and is increased in the lungs of patients with COPD and in experimental COPD. Inhibiting necroptosis attenuates ...
Luo, Z, Morey, JR, Deplazes, E, Motygullina, A, Tan, A, Ganio, K, Neville, SL, Eleftheriadis, N, Isselstein, M, Pederick, VG, Paton, JC, Cordes, T, Harmer, JR, Kobe, B & McDevitt, CA 2021, 'A Trap-Door Mechanism for Zinc Acquisition by Streptococcus pneumoniae AdcA', mBio, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 1-14.
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Zinc is an essential nutrient for the virulence of bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae . Many Gram-positive bacteria use a two-domain lipoprotein for zinc acquisition, but how this class of metal-recruiting proteins acquire zinc and interact with the uptake machinery has remained poorly defined.
Luu, LDW, Payne, M, Zhang, X, Luo, L & Lan, R 2021, 'Development and comparison of novel multiple cross displacement amplification (MCDA) assays with other nucleic acid amplification methods for SARS-CoV-2 detection', Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1-7.
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AbstractThe development of alternative isothermal amplification assays including multiple cross displacement amplification (MCDA) may address speed and portability limitations of real-time PCR (rt-PCR) methods for SARS-CoV-2 detection. We developed a novel SARS-CoV-2 MCDA assay and compared its speed and sensitivity to loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and rt-PCR. Two MCDA assays targeting SARS-CoV-2 N gene and ORF1ab were designed. The fastest time to detection and sensitivity of MCDA was compared to LAMP and rt-PCR using DNA standards and transcribed RNA. For the N gene, MCDA was faster than LAMP and rt-PCR by 10 and 20 min, respectively with fastest time to detection at 5.2 min. rt-PCR had the highest sensitivity with the limit of detection at 10 copies/µl compared with MCDA (100 copies/µl) and LAMP (500 copies/µl). For ORF1ab, MCDA and LAMP had similar speed with fastest time to detection at 9.7 and 8.4 min, respectively. LAMP was more sensitive for ORF1ab detection with 50 copies/µl compared to MCDA (500 copies/µl). In conclusion, different nucleic acid amplification methods provide different advantages. MCDA is the fastest nucleic acid amplification method for SARS-CoV-2 while rt-PCR is the most sensitive. These advantages should be considered when determining the most suitable nucleic acid amplification methods for different applications.
Luu, LDW, Zhong, L, Kaur, S, Raftery, MJ & Lan, R 2021, 'Comparative Phosphoproteomics of Classical Bordetellae Elucidates the Potential Role of Serine, Threonine and Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Bordetella Biology and Virulence', Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, vol. 11, p. 660280.
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The Bordetella genus is divided into two groups: classical and non-classical. Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella parapertussis are known as classical bordetellae, a group of important human pathogens causing whooping cough or whooping cough-like disease and hypothesized to have evolved from environmental non-classical bordetellae. Bordetella infections have increased globally driving the need to better understand these pathogens for the development of new treatments and vaccines. One unexplored component in Bordetella is the role of serine, threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation. Therefore, this study characterized the phosphoproteome of classical bordetellae and examined its potential role in Bordetella biology and virulence. Applying strict identification of localization criteria, this study identified 70 unique phosphorylated proteins in the classical bordetellae group with a high degree of conservation. Phosphorylation was a key regulator of Bordetella metabolism with proteins involved in gluconeogenesis, TCA cycle, amino acid and nucleotide synthesis significantly enriched. Three key virulence pathways were also phosphorylated including type III secretion system, alcaligin synthesis and the BvgAS master transcriptional regulatory system for virulence genes in Bordetella. Seven new phosphosites were identified in BvgA with 6 located in the DNA binding domain. Of the 7, 4 were not present in non-classical bordetellae. This suggests that serine/threonine phosphorylation may play an important role in stabilizing/destabilizing BvgA binding to DNA for fine-tuning of virulence gene expression and that BvgA phosphorylation may be an important factor separa...
Ma, H, Li, J, Yang, J, Wang, N, Liu, Z, Wang, T, Su, D, Wang, C & Wang, G 2021, 'Bismuth Nanoparticles Anchored on Ti3C2Tx MXene Nanosheets for High‐Performance Sodium‐Ion Batteries', Chemistry – An Asian Journal, vol. 16, no. 22, pp. 3774-3780.
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AbstractSodium‐ion batteries are promising energy‐storage systems, but they are facing huge challenges for developing fast‐charging anode materials. Bismuth (Bi)‐based anode materials are considered as candidates for fast‐charging anodes of sodium‐ion batteries due to their excellent rate performance. Herein, we designed a two‐dimensional Bi/MXene anode material based on a hydrogen thermal reduction strategy. Benefitting from microstructure advantages, Bi/MXene anodes exhibited an excellent rate capability and superior cycle performance in Na//Bi/MXene half‐batteries and Na3V2(PO4)3/C//Bi/MXene full‐batteries. Moreover, full‐batteries can complete a charge/discharge cycle in 7 min and maintain an excellent cycle life (over 7000 cycles). The electrochemical test results showed that Bi/MXene is a promising anode material with fast charge/discharge capability for sodium‐ion batteries.
Ma, H, Wang, T, Li, J, Yang, J, Liu, Z, Wang, N, Su, D & Wang, C 2021, 'Nitrogen Doped Carbon Coated Bi Microspheres as High‐performance Anode for Half and Full Sodium Ion Batteries', Chemistry – An Asian Journal, vol. 16, no. 16, pp. 2314-2320.
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AbstractAs two‐dimensional (2D) materials, bismuth (Bi) has large interlayer spacing along c‐axis (0.395 nm) which provides rich active sites for sodium ions, thus guaranteeing high sodium ion storage activity. However, its poor electrical conductivity, combined with its degraded cycling performance, restricts its practical application. Herein, Bi microsphere coated with nitrogen‐doped carbon (Bi@NC) was synthesized. Owing to the unique Bi crystals and nitrogen‐doped carbon layer, the obtained Bi@NC anode exhibited satisfactory cycling stability and superior rate capability. Moreover, after assembling Bi@NC anode with Na3V2(PO4)3@C cathode to full battery, excellent sodium storage performance was obtained (57 mA h g−1 after 2000 cycles at 1.0 A g−1).
Ma, J, Li, Y, Grundish, NS, Goodenough, JB, Chen, Y, Guo, L, Peng, Z, Qi, X, Yang, F, Qie, L, Wang, C-A, Huang, B, Huang, Z, Chen, L, Su, D, Wang, G, Peng, X, Chen, Z, Yang, J, He, S, Zhang, X, Yu, H, Fu, C, Jiang, M, Deng, W, Sun, C-F, Pan, Q, Tang, Y, Li, X, Ji, X, Wan, F, Niu, Z, Lian, F, Wang, C, Wallace, GG, Fan, M, Meng, Q, Xin, S, Guo, Y-G & Wan, L-J 2021, 'The 2021 battery technology roadmap', Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, vol. 54, no. 18, pp. 183001-183001.
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Abstract Sun, wind and tides have huge potential in providing us electricity in an environmental-friendly way. However, its intermittency and non-dispatchability are major reasons preventing full-scale adoption of renewable energy generation. Energy storage will enable this adoption by enabling a constant and high-quality electricity supply from these systems. But which storage technology should be considered is one of important issues. Nowadays, great effort has been focused on various kinds of batteries to store energy, lithium-related batteries, sodium-related batteries, zinc-related batteries, aluminum-related batteries and so on. Some cathodes can be used for these batteries, such as sulfur, oxygen, layered compounds. In addition, the construction of these batteries can be changed into flexible, flow or solid-state types. There are many challenges in electrode materials, electrolytes and construction of these batteries and research related to the battery systems for energy storage is extremely active. With the myriad of technologies and their associated technological challenges, we were motivated to assemble this 2020 battery technology roadmap.
Mac Aogáin, M, Narayana, JK, Tiew, PY, Ali, NABM, Yong, VFL, Jaggi, TK, Lim, AYH, Keir, HR, Dicker, AJ, Thng, KX, Tsang, A, Ivan, FX, Poh, ME, Oriano, M, Aliberti, S, Blasi, F, Low, TB, Ong, TH, Oliver, B, Giam, YH, Tee, A, Koh, MS, Abisheganaden, JA, Tsaneva-Atanasova, K, Chalmers, JD & Chotirmall, SH 2021, 'Integrative microbiomics in bronchiectasis exacerbations', Nature Medicine, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 688-699.
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Bronchiectasis, a progressive chronic airway disease, is characterized by microbial colonization and infection. We present an approach to the multi-biome that integrates bacterial, viral and fungal communities in bronchiectasis through weighted similarity network fusion ( https://integrative-microbiomics.ntu.edu.sg ). Patients at greatest risk of exacerbation have less complex microbial co-occurrence networks, reduced diversity and a higher degree of antagonistic interactions in their airway microbiome. Furthermore, longitudinal interactome dynamics reveals microbial antagonism during exacerbation, which resolves following treatment in an otherwise stable multi-biome. Assessment of the Pseudomonas interactome shows that interaction networks, rather than abundance alone, are associated with exacerbation risk, and that incorporation of microbial interaction data improves clinical prediction models. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing of an independent cohort validated the multi-biome interactions detected in targeted analysis and confirmed the association with exacerbation. Integrative microbiomics captures microbial interactions to determine exacerbation risk, which cannot be appreciated by the study of a single microbial group. Antibiotic strategies probably target the interaction networks rather than individual microbes, providing a fresh approach to the understanding of respiratory infection.
Macdonald, PS, Gorrie, N, Brennan, X, Aili, SR, De Silva, R, Jha, SR, Fritis-Lamora, R, Montgomery, E, Wilhelm, K, Pierce, R, Lam, F, Schnegg, B, Hayward, C, Jabbour, A, Kotlyar, E, Muthiah, K, Keogh, AM, Granger, E, Connellan, M, Watson, A, Iyer, A & Jansz, PC 2021, 'The impact of frailty on mortality after heart transplantation', The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 87-94.
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BACKGROUNDFrailty is prevalent in the patients with advanced heart failure; however, its impact on clinical outcomes after heart transplantation (HTx) is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of pre-transplant frailty on mortality and the duration of hospitalization after HTx.METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the post-transplant outcomes of 140 patients with advanced heart failure who had undergone frailty assessment within the 6-month interval before HTx: 43 of them were frail (F) and 97 were non-frail (NF).RESULTSPost-transplant survival rates for the NF cohort at 1 and 12 months were 97% (93–100) and 95% (91–99) (95% CI), respectively. In contrast, post-transplant survival rates for the F cohort at the same time points were 86% (76–96) and 74% (60–84) (p < 0.0008 vs NF cohort), respectively. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis demonstrated that pre-transplant frailty was an independent predictor of post-transplant mortality with a hazard ratio of 3.8 (95% CI: 1.4–10.5). Intensive care unit and hospital length of stay were 2 and 7 days longer in the F cohort (both p < 0.05), respectively, than in the NF cohort.CONCLUSIONSFrailty within 6 months before HTx is independently associated with increased mortality and prolonged hospitalization after transplantation. Future research should focus on the development of strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of pre-transplant frailty.
Maddahfar, M 2021, 'StableandHighlyEfficientAntibody−NanoparticlesConjugation', Bioconjugate Chemistry, vol. 32, no. 6, pp. 1146-1155.
Maddahfar, M, Wen, S, Hosseinpour Mashkani, SM, Zhang, L, Shimoni, O, Stenzel, M, Zhou, J, Fazekas de St Groth, B & Jin, D 2021, 'Stable and Highly Efficient Antibody–Nanoparticles Conjugation', Bioconjugate Chemistry, vol. 32, no. 6, pp. 1146-1155.
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Functional ligands and polymers have frequently been used to yield target-specific bio-nanoconjugates. Herein, we provide a systematic insight into the effect of the chain length of poly(oligo (ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate) (POEGMEA) containing polyethylene glycol on the colloidal stability and antibody-conjugation efficiency of nanoparticles. We employed Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) to design diblock copolymers composed of 7 monoacryloxyethyl phosphate (MAEP) units and 6, 13, 35, or 55 OEGMEA units. We find that when the POEGMEA chain is short, the polymer cannot effectively stabilize the nanoparticles, and when the POEGMEA chain is long, the nanoparticles cannot be efficiently conjugated to antibody. In other words, the majority of the carboxylic groups in larger POEGMEA chains are inaccessible to further chemical modification. We demonstrate that the polymer containing 13 OEGMEA units can effectively bind up to 64% of the antibody molecules, while the binding efficiency drops to 50% and 0% for the polymer containing 35 and 55 OEGMEA units. Moreover, flow cytometry assay statistically shows that about 9% of the coupled antibody retained its activity to recognize B220 biomarkers on the B cells. This work suggests a library of stabile, specific, and bioactive lanthanide-doped nanoconjugates for flow cytometry and mass cytometry application.
Maestrini, L & Wand, MP 2021, 'The Inverse G‐Wishart distribution and variational message passing', Australian & New Zealand Journal of Statistics, vol. 63, no. 3, pp. 517-541.
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SummaryMessage passing on a factor graph is a powerful paradigm for the coding of approximate inference algorithms for arbitrarily large graphical models. The notion of a factor graph fragment allows for compartmentalisation of algebra and computer code. We show that the Inverse G‐Wishart family of distributions enables fundamental variational message passing factor graph fragments to be expressed elegantly and succinctly. Such fragments arise in models for which approximate inference concerning covariance matrix or variance parameters is made, and are ubiquitous in contemporary statistics and machine learning.
Mahbub, SB, Nguyen, LT, Habibalahi, A, Campbell, JM, Anwer, AG, Qadri, UM, Gill, A, Chou, A, Wong, MG, Gosnell, ME, Pollock, CA, Saad, S & Goldys, EM 2021, 'Non-invasive assessment of exfoliated kidney cells extracted from urine using multispectral autofluorescence features', Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1.
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AbstractOptimally preserved urinary exfoliated renal proximal tubule cells were assessed by multispectral imaging of cell autofluorescence. We demonstrated different multispectral autofluorescence signals in such cells extracted from the urine of patients with healthy or diseased kidneys. Using up to 10 features, we were able to differentiate cells from individuals with heathy kidneys and impaired renal function (indicated by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values) with the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) of 0.99. Using the same method, we were also able to discriminate such urine cells from patients with and without renal fibrosis on biopsy, where significant differences in multispectral autofluorescence signals (AUC = 0.90) were demonstrated between healthy and diseased patients (p < 0.05). These findings show that multispectral assessment of the cell autofluorescence in urine exfoliated proximal tubule kidney cells has the potential to be developed as a sensitive, non-invasive diagnostic method for CKD.
Mahbub, SB, Nguyen, LT, Habibalahi, A, Campbell, JM, Anwer, AG, Qadri, UM, Gill, A, Chou, A, Wong, MG, Gosnell, ME, Pollock, CA, Saad, S & Goldys, EM 2021, 'Publisher Correction: Non-invasive assessment of exfoliated kidney cells extracted from urine using multispectral autofluorescence features', Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1.
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Mahmodi, H, Piloni, A, Utama, RH & Kabakova, I 2021, 'Mechanical mapping of bioprinted hydrogel models by brillouin microscopy', Bioprinting, vol. 23, pp. e00151-e00151.
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Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has revolutionised the field of biofabrication by delivering precise, cost-effective and a relatively simple way of engineering in vitro living systems in high volume for use in tissue regeneration, biological modelling, drug testing and cell-based diagnostics. The complexity of modern bioprinted systems requires quality control assessment to ensure the resulting product meets the desired criteria of structural design, micromechanical performance and long-term durability. Brillouin microscopy could be an excellent solution for micromechanical assessment of the bioprinted models during or post-fabrication since this technology is non-destructive, label-free and is capable of microscale 3D imaging. In this work, we demonstrate the application of Brillouin microscopy to 3D imaging of hydrogel microstructures created through drop-on-demand bioprinting. In addition, we show that this technology can resolve variations between mechanical properties of the gels with slightly different polymer fractions. This work confirms that Brillouin microscopy can be seen as a characterisation technology complementary to bioprinting, and in the future can be combined within the printer design to achieve simultaneous real-time fabrication and micromechanical characterisation of in vitro biological systems.
Mahmood, A, Yuan, Z, Sui, X, Riaz, MA, Yu, Z, Liu, C, Chen, J, Wang, C, Zhao, S, Mahmood, N, Pei, Z, Wei, L & Chen, Y 2021, 'Foldable and scrollable graphene paper with tuned interlayer spacing as high areal capacity anodes for sodium-ion batteries', Energy Storage Materials, vol. 41, pp. 395-403.
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Mahmud, MA, Pham, HT, Duong, T, Yin, Y, Peng, J, Wu, Y, Liang, W, Li, L, Kumar, A, Shen, H, Walter, D, Nguyen, HT, Mozaffari, N, Tabi, GD, Andersson, G, Catchpole, KR, Weber, KJ & White, TP 2021, 'Combined Bulk and Surface Passivation in Dimensionally Engineered 2D‐3D Perovskite Films via Chlorine Diffusion', Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 31, no. 46.
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AbstractDimensional engineering of perovskite films is a promising pathway to improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this context, surface or bulk passivation of defects in 3D perovskite film by careful introduction of 2D perovskite plays a key role. Here the authors demonstrate a 2D perovskite passivation scheme based on octylammonium chloride, and show that it provides both bulk and surface passivation of 1.6 eV bandgap 3D perovskite film for highly efficient (≈23.62%) PSCs with open‐circuit voltages up to 1.24 V. Surface and depth‐resolved microscopy and spectroscopy analysis reveal that the Cl− anion diffuses into the perovskite bulk, passivating defects, while the octylammonium ligands provide effective, localized surface passivation. The authors find that the Cl− diffusion into the perovskite lattice is independent of the 2D perovskite crystallization process and occurs rapidly during deposition of the 2D precursor solution. The annealing‐induced evaporation of Cl from bulk perovskite is also inhibited in 2D–3D perovskite film as compared to pristine 3D perovskite, ensuring effective bulk passivation in the relevant film.
Mahmud, MAP & Farjana, SH 2021, 'Comparative Eco-Profiles of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Using Life Cycle Assessment', Journal of Polymers and the Environment, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 418-428.
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) are extensively applied to produce nano-energy by harvesting ambient mechanical energy for energizing wearable electronics. Nowadays importance has been given to study on both PET and PMMA due to their growing demand in building Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENG) to replace small batteries. The manufacturing of both triboelectric polymers from raw materials is hazardous to the environment. However, there has been no comparative evaluation of the probable effects of PET and PMMA production plants yet. This study highlights their comparative eco-profiles. An inclusive Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) model is built for methodical assessment of their impacts. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been done by the ILCD midpoint method, Eco-indicator 99 endpoint method, Raw Material Flow (RMF) method, Greenhouse gas protocol method, and Ecopoints 97 method utilizing the Ecoinvent database and SimaPro software. The effects are assessed and compared for 21 impact categories such as global warming, acidification, eutrophication, terrestrial ecotoxicity, human toxicity, human carcinogenic toxicity, and fine particulate matter formation, marine ecotoxicity etc. The results indicate an estimated 3.01 kg CO2 eq./kg and 8.43 kg CO2 eq./kg of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission to the environment by a PET plant and a PMMA plant, respectively. Moreover, PET plants have the highest effect on land use, ionizing radiation and ozone depletion; whereas PMMA plants have the greatest impact on climate change, acidification, eutrophication and resources. Overall, PMMA polymer production plants are found to be more hazardous to the environment than PET polymer production plants. It is recommended that a better environmental profile from both types of production plants can be achieved through optimization, via abating the effects by replacing the problematic materials, designs, methods and devices with their equivalent environment-friend...
Mahmud, MAP, Tat, T, Xiao, X, Adhikary, P & Chen, J 2021, 'Advances in 4D‐printed physiological monitoring sensors', Exploration, vol. 1, no. 3.
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AbstractPhysiological monitoring sensors have been critical in diagnosing and improving the healthcare industry over the past 30 years, despite various limitations regarding providing differences in signal outputs in response to the changes in the user's body. Four‐dimensional (4D) printing has been established in less than a decade; therefore, it currently offers limited resources and knowledge. Still, the technique paves the way for novel platforms in today's ever‐growing technologies. This innovative paradigm of 4D printing physiological monitoring sensors aspires to provide real‐time and continuous diagnoses. In this perspective, we cover the advancements currently available in the 4D printing industry that has arisen in the last septennium, focusing on the overview of 4D printing, its history, and both wearable and implantable physiological sensing solutions. Finally, we explore the current challenges faced in this field, translational research, and its future prospects. All of these aims highlight key areas of attention that can be applied by future researchers to fully transform 4D printed physiological monitoring sensors into more viable medical products.
Mahmud, MAP, Zolfagharian, A, Gharaie, S, Kaynak, A, Farjana, SH, Ellis, AV, Chen, J & Kouzani, AZ 2021, '3D‐Printed Triboelectric Nanogenerators: State of the Art, Applications, and Challenges', Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research, vol. 2, no. 3.
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Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) development is undergoing rapid progress utilizing the state‐of‐the‐art 3D‐printing technologies. Herein a critical analysis of the latest developments in 3D‐printed wearable and implantable TENGs that can be used to energize small portable electronic and biomedical devices is presented. Recent progress in 3D‐printed triboelectric nanogenerator (3DP‐TENG) materials and architectural formations, as well as their performance, is evaluated for powering systems that implement physiological monitoring, multifunctional sensing, electronic energizing, noise canceling, dust filtering, and self‐healing. Furthermore, the review explicitly focuses on the 3D‐printing approaches used to form stable and robust 3DP‐TENGs. In addition, the key challenges to improving the performance of 3DP‐TENGs for optimal energy harvesting are discussed, and a roadmap is given for research and translation to commercial markets in the next decade.
Mai-Prochnow, A, Zhou, R, Zhang, T, Ostrikov, K, Mugunthan, S, Rice, SA & Cullen, PJ 2021, 'Interactions of plasma-activated water with biofilms: inactivation, dispersal effects and mechanisms of action', npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, vol. 7, no. 1, p. 11.
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AbstractBiofilms have several characteristics that ensure their survival in a range of adverse environmental conditions, including high cell numbers, close cell proximity to allow easy genetic exchange (e.g., for resistance genes), cell communication and protection through the production of an exopolysaccharide matrix. Together, these characteristics make it difficult to kill undesirable biofilms, despite the many studies aimed at improving the removal of biofilms. An elimination method that is safe, easy to deliver in physically complex environments and not prone to microbial resistance is highly desired. Cold atmospheric plasma, a lightning-like state generated from air or other gases with a high voltage can be used to make plasma-activated water (PAW) that contains many active species and radicals that have antimicrobial activity. Recent studies have shown the potential for PAW to be used for biofilm elimination without causing the bacteria to develop significant resistance. However, the precise mode of action is still the subject of debate. This review discusses the formation of PAW generated species and their impacts on biofilms. A focus is placed on the diffusion of reactive species into biofilms, the formation of gradients and the resulting interaction with the biofilm matrix and specific biofilm components. Such an understanding will provide significant benefits for tackling the ubiquitous problem of biofilm contamination in food, water and medical areas.
Maire, J, Girvan, SK, Barkla, SE, Perez-Gonzalez, A, Suggett, DJ, Blackall, LL & van Oppen, MJH 2021, 'Correction to: Intracellular bacteria are common and taxonomically diverse in cultured and in hospite algal endosymbionts of coral reefs', The ISME Journal, vol. 15, no. 7, pp. 2168-2170.
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Abstract A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-00970-6
Maire, J, Girvan, SK, Barkla, SE, Perez-Gonzalez, A, Suggett, DJ, Blackall, LL & van Oppen, MJH 2021, 'Intracellular bacteria are common and taxonomically diverse in cultured and in hospite algal endosymbionts of coral reefs', The ISME Journal, vol. 15, no. 7, pp. 2028-2042.
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Abstract Corals house a variety of microorganisms which they depend on for their survival, including endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae) and bacteria. While cnidarian–microorganism interactions are widely studied, Symbiodiniaceae–bacteria interactions are only just beginning to receive attention. Here, we describe the localization and composition of the bacterial communities associated with cultures of 11 Symbiodiniaceae strains from nine species and six genera. Three-dimensional confocal laser scanning and electron microscopy revealed bacteria are present inside the Symbiodiniaceae cells as well as closely associated with their external cell surface. Bacterial pure cultures and 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding from Symbiodiniaceae cultures highlighted distinct and highly diverse bacterial communities occur intracellularly, closely associated with the Symbiodiniaceae outer cell surface and loosely associated (i.e., in the surrounding culture media). The intracellular bacteria are highly conserved across Symbiodiniaceae species, suggesting they may be involved in Symbiodiniaceae physiology. Our findings provide unique new insights into the biology of Symbiodiniaceae.
Maitre, M, Chiaravalle, A, Horder, M, Chadwick, S & Beavis, A 2021, 'Evaluating the effect of barrel length on pellet distribution patterns of sawn-off shotguns', Forensic Science International, vol. 320, pp. 110685-110685.
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Man, Z, Safaei, J, Zhang, Z, Wang, Y, Zhou, D, Li, P, Zhang, X, Jiang, L & Wang, G 2021, 'Serosa-Mimetic Nanoarchitecture Membranes for Highly Efficient Osmotic Energy Generation', Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 143, no. 39, pp. 16206-16216.
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Osmotic energy stored between seawater and freshwater is a clean and renewable energy source. However, developing high-efficiency and durable permselective membranes for harvesting osmotic energy remains a longstanding bottleneck. Herein, we report that a nanocomposite membrane with a biological serosa-mimetic structure can achieve high-performance osmotic energy generation through the coupling of two-dimensional (2D) sulfonated covalent organic framework (COF) nanosheets and anion-grafted aramid nanofibers (ANFs). As verified by theoretical calculations and experimental investigations, the 2D COF nanosheets not only provide abundant one-dimensional (1D)/2D nanofluidic channels to synergistically benefit an ultrafast ion migration but also enable high cation permselectivity via the covalently tethered anions. The grafted ANFs increase the mechanical strength of the membrane and further improve the ion diffusion/rectification. When it was applied in an osmotic power generator, the biomimetic membrane delivered a power density of 9.6 W m-2, far surpassing the commercial benchmark of 5.0 W m-2. This work could boost the viability of osmotic energy conversion toward a sustainable future.
Mandal, PK, Ballerin, G, Nolan, LM, Petty, NK & Whitchurch, CB 2021, 'Bacteriophage infection of Escherichia coli leads to the formation of membrane vesicles via both explosive cell lysis and membrane blebbing', Microbiology, vol. 167, no. 4.
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Membrane vesicles (MVs) are membrane-bound spherical nanostructures that prevail in all three domains of life. In Gram-negative bacteria, MVs are thought to be produced through blebbing of the outer membrane and are often referred to as outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). We have recently described another mechanism of MV formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa that involves explosive cell-lysis events, which shatters cellular membranes into fragments that rapidly anneal into MVs. Interestingly, MVs are often observed within preparations of lytic bacteriophage, however the source of these MVs and their association with bacteriophage infection has not been explored. In this study we aimed to determine if MV formation is associated with lytic bacteriophage infection. Live super-resolution microscopy demonstrated that explosive cell lysis of Escherichia coli cells infected with either bacteriophage T4 or T7, resulted in the formation of MVs derived from shattered membrane fragments. Infection by either bacteriophage was also associated with the formation of membrane blebs on intact bacteria. TEM revealed multiple classes of MVs within phage lysates, consistent with multiple mechanisms of MV formation. These findings suggest that bacteriophage infection may be a major contributor to the abundance...
Mandigo, AC, Yuan, W, Xu, K, Gallagher, P, Pang, A, Guan, YF, Shafi, AA, Thangavel, C, Sheehan, B, Bogdan, D, Paschalis, A, McCann, JJ, Laufer, TS, Gordon, N, Vasilevskaya, IA, Dylgjeri, E, Chand, SN, Schiewer, MJ, Domingo-Domenech, J, Den, RB, Holst, J, McCue, PA, de Bono, JS, McNair, C & Knudsen, KE 2021, 'RB/E2F1 as a Master Regulator of Cancer Cell Metabolism in Advanced Disease', Cancer Discovery, vol. 11, no. 9, pp. 2334-2353.
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Abstract Loss of the retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor protein is a critical step in reprogramming biological networks that drive cancer progression, although mechanistic insight has been largely limited to the impact of RB loss on cell-cycle regulation. Here, isogenic modeling of RB loss identified disease stage–specific rewiring of E2F1 function, providing the first-in-field mapping of the E2F1 cistrome and transcriptome after RB loss across disease progression. Biochemical and functional assessment using both in vitro and in vivo models identified an unexpected, prominent role for E2F1 in regulation of redox metabolism after RB loss, driving an increase in the synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione, specific to advanced disease. These E2F1-dependent events resulted in protection from reactive oxygen species in response to therapeutic intervention. On balance, these findings reveal novel pathways through which RB loss promotes cancer progression and highlight potentially new nodes of intervention for treating RB-deficient cancers. Significance: This study identifies stage-specific consequences of RB loss across cancer progression that have a direct impact on tumor response to clinically utilized therapeutics. The study herein is the first to investigate the effect of RB loss on global metabolic regulation and link RB/E2F1 to redox control in multiple advanced diseases. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2113
Mandwie, M, Karunia, J, Niaz, A, Keay, KA, Musumeci, G, Rennie, C, McGrath, K, Al-Badri, G & Castorina, A 2021, 'Metformin Treatment Attenuates Brain Inflammation and Rescues PACAP/VIP Neuropeptide Alterations in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 22, no. 24, pp. 13660-13660.
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High-fat diet (HFD)-induced comorbid cognitive and behavioural impairments are thought to be the result of persistent low-grade neuroinflammation. Metformin, a first-line medication for the treatment of type-2 diabetes, seems to ameliorate these comorbidities, but the underlying mechanism(s) are not clear. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) are neuroprotective peptides endowed with anti-inflammatory properties. Alterations to the PACAP/VIP system could be pivotal during the development of HFD-induced neuroinflammation. To unveil the pathogenic mechanisms underlying HFD-induced neuroinflammation and assess metformin’s therapeutic activities, (1) we determined if HFD-induced proinflammatory activity was present in vulnerable brain regions associated with the development of comorbid behaviors, (2) investigated if the PACAP/VIP system is altered by HFD, and (3) assessed if metformin rescues such diet-induced neurochemical alterations. C57BL/6J male mice were divided into two groups to receive either standard chow (SC) or HFD for 16 weeks. A further HFD group received metformin (HFD + M) (300 mg/kg BW daily for 5 weeks) via oral gavage. Body weight, fasting glucose, and insulin levels were measured. After 16 weeks, the proinflammatory profile, glial activation markers, and changes within the PI3K/AKT intracellular pathway and the PACAP/VIP system were evaluated by real-time qPCR and/or Western blot in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. Our data showed that HFD causes widespread low-grade neuroinflammation and gliosis, with regional-specific differences across brain regions. HFD also diminished phospho-AKT(Ser473) expression and caused significant disruptions to the PACAP/VIP system. Treatment with metformin attenuated these neuroinflammatory signatures and reversed PI3K/AKT and PACAP/VIP alterations caused by HFD. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that metform...
Mann, R, Holmes, A, McNeilly, O, Cavaliere, R, Sotiriou, GA, Rice, SA & Gunawan, C 2021, 'Evolution of biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria in the presence of nanoparticles and antibiotic: adaptation phenomena and cross-resistance', Journal of Nanobiotechnology, vol. 19, no. 1, p. 291.
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Abstract Background Treatment of bacterial biofilms are difficult and in many cases, expensive. Bacterial biofilms are naturally more resilient to antimicrobial agents than their free-living planktonic counterparts, rendering the community growth harder to control. The present work described the risks of long-term use of an important alternative antimicrobial, silver nanoparticles (NAg), for the first time, on the dominant mode of bacterial growth. Results NAg could inhibit the formation as well as eradicating an already grown biofilm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogen notorious for its resilience to antibiotics. The biofilm-forming bacterium however, evolved a reduced sensitivity to the nanoparticle. Evidence suggests that survival is linked to the development of persister cells within the population. A similar adaptation was also seen upon prolonged exposures to ionic silver (Ag+). The persister population resumed normal growth after subsequent passage in the absence of silver, highlighting the potential risks of recurrent infections with long-term NAg (and Ag+) treatments of biofilm growth. The present study further observed a potential silver/antibiotic cross-resistance, whereby NAg (as well as Ag+) could not eradicate an already growing gentamicin-resistant P. aeruginosa biofilm. The phenomena is thought to result from the hindered biofilm penetration of the silver species. In contrast, both silver formulations inhibited biofilm formation of the resistant strain, presenting a promising avenue for the control of biofilm-forming antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Mann, R, Mitsidis, D, Xie, Z, McNeilly, O, Ng, YH, Amal, R & Gunawan, C 2021, 'Antibacterial Activity of Reduced Graphene Oxide', Journal of Nanomaterials, vol. 2021, pp. 1-10.
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The increasing biological use of graphene-based materials has prompted research inquiries on their effects on microorganisms. The work herein reported different types of microbiological activity of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). At relatively high concentrations (200 and 400 μg/mL), RGO exhibited antibacterial activity on the model bacterium Escherichia coli, while at lower concentrations (10 and 50 μg/mL), interestingly, no antibacterial effect was observed. Instead, an increase in the viable population after exposure at lower concentrations was observed, verified by colony counting and fluorescence microscopy. Further investigation ruled out the possibility of nutrient release from RGO being responsible for this growth-enhancing effect, whereby a comparable number of viable cells were found in the particle-free RGO leachate systems relative to the control. A before and after exposure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the RGO detected less presence of C-C bond on the particle surface, suggesting the ability of the bacterium for the use of the carbon-based materials for growth. This potential RGO-cell interaction is further supported by the observed emergence of C-N bond on the particle surface, the nitrogen moieties most likely of bacterial (cell envelope) origins. Although still an early evidence, such RGO-cell interactions could explain the viable cell increase observed at the lower concentration RGO systems. The present study highlights the concentration-dependent microbiological effects of RGO, clarifying the contradicting reports on the growth enhancing versus antibacterial effect of graphene-based materials. The knowledge is important not only for the antibacterial formulation of carbon-based materials but also when assessing their environmental impact.
Manning, EE, Bradfield, LA & Iordanova, MD 2021, 'Adaptive behaviour under conflict: Deconstructing extinction, reversal, and active avoidance learning', Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 120, pp. 526-536.
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In complex environments, organisms must respond adaptively to situations despite conflicting information. Under natural (i.e. non-laboratory) circumstances, it is rare that cues or responses are consistently paired with a single outcome. Inconsistent pairings are more common, as are situations where cues and responses are associated with multiple outcomes. Such inconsistency creates conflict, and a response that is adaptive in one scenario may not be adaptive in another. Learning to adjust responses accordingly is important for species to survive and prosper. Here we review the behavioural and brain mechanisms of responding under conflict by focusing on three popular behavioural procedures: extinction, reversal learning, and active avoidance. Extinction involves adapting from reinforcement to non-reinforcement, reversal learning involves swapping the reinforcement of cues or responses, and active avoidance involves performing a response to avoid an aversive outcome, which may conflict with other defensive strategies. We note that each of these phenomena relies on somewhat overlapping neural circuits, suggesting that such circuits may be critical for the general ability to respond appropriately under conflict.
Marlton, FP, Nayak, S, Venkateshwarlu, S, Chan, NH, Kong, J, Zhang, Y, Tucker, MG, Jørgensen, MRV & Pramanick, A 2021, 'Broad Distribution of Local Polar States Generates Large Electrothermal Properties in Pb-Free Relaxor Ferroelectrics', Chemistry of Materials, vol. 33, no. 22, pp. 8844-8853.
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Marlton, FP, Zhang, Z, Zhang, Y, Proffen, TE, Ling, CD & Kennedy, BJ 2021, 'Lattice Disorder and Oxygen Migration Pathways in Pyrochlore and Defect-Fluorite Oxides', Chemistry of Materials, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 1407-1415.
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Martins Costa Gomes, G, de Gouveia Belinelo, P, Starkey, MR, Murphy, VE, Hansbro, PM, Sly, PD, Robinson, PD, Karmaus, W, Gibson, PG, Mattes, J & Collison, AM 2021, 'Cord blood group 2 innate lymphoid cells are associated with lung function at 6 weeks of age', Clinical & Translational Immunology, vol. 10, no. 7, p. e1296.
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AbstractObjectiveOffspring born to mothers with asthma in pregnancy are known to have lower lung function which tracks with age. Human group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) accumulate in foetal lungs, at 10‐fold higher levels compared to adult lungs. However, there are no data on foetal ILC2 numbers and the association with respiratory health outcomes such as lung function in early life. We aimed to investigate cord blood immune cell populations from babies born to mothers with asthma in pregnancy.MethodsCord blood from babies born to asthmatic mothers was collected, and cells were stained in whole cord blood. Analyses were done using traditional gating approaches and computational methodologies (t‐distributed stochastic neighbour embedding and PhenoGraph algorithms). At 6 weeks of age, the time to peak tidal expiratory flow as a percentage of total expiratory flow time (tPTEF/tE%) was determined as well as Lung Clearance Index (LCI), during quiet natural sleep.ResultsOf 110 eligible infants (March 2017 to November 2019), 91 were successfully immunophenotyped (82.7%). Lung function was attempted in 61 infants (67.0%), and 43 of those infants (70.5% of attempted) had technically acceptable tPTEF/tE% measurements. Thirty‐four infants (55.7% of attempted) had acceptable LCI measurements. Foetal ILC2 numbers with increased expression of chemoattractant receptor‐homologous molecule (CRTh2), characterised by two distinct analysis methodologies, were associated with poorer infant lung function at 6 weeks of age.”ConclusionFoetal immune responses may be a surrogate variable for or directly influence lung function outcomes in early life.
Martins Costa Gomes, G, Karmaus, W, Murphy, VE, Gibson, PG, Percival, E, Hansbro, PM, Starkey, MR, Mattes, J & Collison, AM 2021, 'Environmental Air Pollutants Inhaled during Pregnancy Are Associated with Altered Cord Blood Immune Cell Profiles', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 14, pp. 7431-7431.
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Air pollution exposure during pregnancy may be a risk factor for altered immune maturation in the offspring. We investigated the association between ambient air pollutants during pregnancy and cell populations in cord blood from babies born to mothers with asthma enrolled in the Breathing for Life Trial. For each patient (n = 91), daily mean ambient air pollutant levels were extracted during their entire pregnancy for sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, particulate matter <10 μm (PM10) or <2.5 μm (PM2.5), humidity, and temperature. Ninety-one cord blood samples were collected, stained, and assessed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Principal Component (PC) analyses of both air pollutants and cell types with linear regression were employed to define associations. Considering risk factors and correlations between PCs, only one PC from air pollutants and two from cell types were statistically significant. PCs from air pollutants were characterized by higher PM2.5 and lower SO2 levels. PCs from cell types were characterized by high numbers of CD8 T cells, low numbers of CD4 T cells, and by high numbers of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) and low numbers of myeloid DCs (mDCs). PM2.5 levels during pregnancy were significantly associated with high numbers of pDCs (p = 0.006), and SO2 with high numbers of CD8 T cells (p = 0.002) and low numbers of CD4 T cells (p = 0.011) and mDCs (p = 4.43 × 10−6) in cord blood. These data suggest that ambient SO2 and PM2.5 exposure are associated with shifts in cord blood cell types that are known to play significant roles in inflammatory respiratory disease in childhood.
Masrur, H, Senjyu, T, Islam, MR, Kouzani, AZ & Mahmud, MAP 2021, 'Resilience-Oriented Dispatch of Microgrids Considering Grid Interruptions', IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1-5.
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By providing a reliable and economical supply of energy, microgrids (MGs) may play a pivotal role in the case of large grid disruptions. However, the resilience benefits of microgrids in terms of outage survivability that often lead to economic paybacks are not well investigated in the existing literature. To address this concern, this paper optimizes and simulates a grid-connected MG placed at a hospital consisting of a photovoltaic (PV) module and an energy storage unit that can adequately prevent a prolonged blackout. The impact of net energy metering (NEM) and diesel generator (DG) has further been examined for this hybrid system. Four different cases have been optimized and results show that the PV and battery work in tandem, both with and without considering the existing DG and NEM and meets all critical load demand during a grid outage. The findings also indicate that the proposed approach yields significant economic benefits for two cases relative to business as usual case.
Massella, E, Giacometti, F, Bonilauri, P, Reid, CJ, Djordjevic, SP, Merialdi, G, Bacci, C, Fiorentini, L, Massi, P, Bardasi, L, Rubini, S, Savini, F, Serraino, A & Piva, S 2021, 'Antimicrobial Resistance Profile and ExPEC Virulence Potential in Commensal Escherichia coli of Multiple Sources', Antibiotics, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 351-351.
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We recently described the genetic antimicrobial resistance and virulence profile of a collection of 279 commensal E. coli of food-producing animal (FPA), pet, wildlife and human origin. Phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the role of commensal E. coli as reservoir of extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) virulence-associated genes (VAGs) or as potential ExPEC pathogens were evaluated. The most common phenotypic resistance was to tetracycline (76/279, 27.24%), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (73/279, 26.16%), streptomycin and sulfisoxazole (71/279, 25.45% both) among the overall collection. Poultry and rabbit were the sources mostly associated to AMR, with a significant resistance rate (p > 0.01) to quinolones, streptomycin, sulphonamides, tetracycline and, only for poultry, to ampicillin and chloramphenicol. Finally, rabbit was the source mostly associated to colistin resistance. Different pandemic (ST69/69*, ST95, ST131) and emerging (ST10/ST10*, ST23, ST58, ST117, ST405, ST648) ExPEC sequence types (STs) were identified among the collection, especially in poultry source. Both ST groups carried high number of ExPEC VAGs (pandemic ExPEC STs, mean = 8.92; emerging ExPEC STs, mean = 6.43) and showed phenotypic resistance to different antimicrobials (pandemic ExPEC STs, mean = 2.23; emerging ExPEC STs, mean = 2.43), suggesting their role as potential ExPEC pathogens. Variable phenotypic resistance and ExPEC VAG distribution was also observed in uncommon ExPEC lineages, suggesting commensal flora as a potential reservoir of virulence (mean = 3.80) and antimicrobial resistance (mean = 1.69) determinants.
Mathieu, C, Gonzalez, A, Garcia, A, Johow, M, Badia, C, Jara, C, Nuñez, P, Neira, V, Montiel, NA, Killian, ML & Brito, BP 2021, 'H7N6 low pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in commercial turkey farms in Chile caused by a native South American Lineage', Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 2-12.
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© 2019 Blackwell Verlag GmbH In December 2016, low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) caused by an H7N6 subtype was confirmed in a grow-out turkey farm located in Valparaiso Region, Chile. Depopulation of exposed animals, zoning, animal movement control and active surveillance were implemented to contain the outbreak. Two weeks later, a second grow-out turkey farm located 70 km north of the first site was also infected by H7N6 LPAI, which subsequently spilled over to one backyard poultry flock. The virus involved in the outbreak shared a close genetic relationship with Chilean aquatic birds’ viruses collected in previous years. The A/turkey/Chile/2017(H7N6) LPAI virus belonged to a native South American lineage. Based on the H7 and most of the internal genes’ phylogenies, these viruses were also closely related to the ones that caused a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in Chile in 2002. Results from this study help to understand the regional dynamics of influenza outbreaks, highlighting the importance of local native viruses circulating in the natural reservoir hosts.
Maugeri, G, D’Agata, V, Magrì, B, Roggio, F, Castorina, A, Ravalli, S, Di Rosa, M & Musumeci, G 2021, 'Neuroprotective Effects of Physical Activity via the Adaptation of Astrocytes', Cells, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 1542-1542.
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The multifold benefits of regular physical exercise have been largely demonstrated in human and animal models. Several studies have reported the beneficial effects of physical activity, both in peripheral tissues and in the central nervous system (CNS). Regular exercise improves cognition, brain plasticity, neurogenesis and reduces the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, making timeless the principle of “mens sana in corpore sano” (i.e., a healthy mind in a healthy body). Physical exercise promotes morphological and functional changes in the brain, acting not only in neurons but also in astrocytes, which represent the most numerous glial cells in the brain. The multiple effects of exercise on astrocytes comprise the increased number of new astrocytes, the maintenance of basal levels of catecholamine, the increase in glutamate uptake, the major release of trophic factors and better astrocytic coverage of cerebral blood vessels. The purpose of this review is to highlight the effects of exercise on brain function, emphasize the role of astrocytes in the healthy CNS, and provide an update for a better understanding of the effects of physical exercise in the modulation of astrocyte function.
Maugeri, G, D'Agata, V, Trovato, B, Roggio, F, Castorina, A, Vecchio, M, Di Rosa, M & Musumeci, G 2021, 'The role of exercise on peripheral nerve regeneration: from animal model to clinical application', Heliyon, vol. 7, no. 11, pp. e08281-e08281.
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McCausland, JW, Yang, X, Squyres, GR, Lyu, Z, Bruce, KE, Lamanna, MM, Söderström, B, Garner, EC, Winkler, ME, Xiao, J & Liu, J 2021, 'Treadmilling FtsZ polymers drive the directional movement of sPG-synthesis enzymes via a Brownian ratchet mechanism', Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 609.
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AbstractThe FtsZ protein is a central component of the bacterial cell division machinery. It polymerizes at mid-cell and recruits more than 30 proteins to assemble into a macromolecular complex to direct cell wall constriction. FtsZ polymers exhibit treadmilling dynamics, driving the processive movement of enzymes that synthesize septal peptidoglycan (sPG). Here, we combine theoretical modelling with single-molecule imaging of live bacterial cells to show that FtsZ’s treadmilling drives the directional movement of sPG enzymes via a Brownian ratchet mechanism. The processivity of the directional movement depends on the binding potential between FtsZ and the sPG enzyme, and on a balance between the enzyme’s diffusion and FtsZ’s treadmilling speed. We propose that this interplay may provide a mechanism to control the spatiotemporal distribution of active sPG enzymes, explaining the distinct roles of FtsZ treadmilling in modulating cell wall constriction rate observed in different bacteria.
McDonald, AG, Murray, BR, Krix, DW & Murray, ML 2021, 'Complex soil contamination severely impacts seed-sown crop viability in Australia', Australian Journal of Crop Science, vol. 15, no. 15(04):2021, pp. 531-537.
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Food security is a critical issue for many global communities. Heavy metal contamination in soils present a major and ongoing ecological risk associated with human activities which may impact the viability and safety of seed-sown crops. To better understand the impacts of soil contamination by heavy metals on seed-sown crop viability, we examined germination responses of eight commercially-important fruit and vegetable crop species to copper, zinc, and lead contamination at levels likely to be found in contaminated regions in Australia. We compared the germination attributes of days to first germination, germination period, and total proportion of seeds germinated under concentration limits of heavy metals detected at degraded sites and current Australian National Environment Protection Measure thresholds for domestic soils (i.e., copper 6,000 mg kg-1, zinc 4,700 mg kg-1, lead 300 mg kg-1). The combined heavy metal treatment (i.e. all three metals) significantly inhibited germination for all edible crop species with only carrots able to germinate under complex, multi-metal-contaminated conditions. Seed viability was significantly decreased in mulberry (M. alba var. tatarica, M. nigra, and M. rubra) and lettuce (L. sativa), with lowered seed germination in all metals compared to carrot (D. carota), radish (R. sativus), tomato (S. lycopersicum) and common bean (P. vulgaris). These results indicate heavy metal contamination is a notable risk to seed-sown crop species, with multi-metal contamination events likely to be severely damaging to lettuce, tomato, radish, common bean, and mulberry crops
McLennan, K, Ruvindy, R, Ostrowski, M & Murray, S 2021, 'Assessing the Use of Molecular Barcoding and qPCR for Investigating the Ecology of Prorocentrum minimum (Dinophyceae), a Harmful Algal Species', Microorganisms, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 510-510.
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Prorocentrum minimum is a species of marine dinoflagellate that occurs worldwide and can be responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs). Some studies have reported it to produce tetrodotoxin; however, results have been inconsistent. qPCR and molecular barcoding (amplicon sequencing) using high-throughput sequencing have been increasingly applied to quantify HAB species for ecological analyses and monitoring. Here, we isolated a strain of P. minimum from eastern Australian waters, where it commonly occurs, and developed and validated a qPCR assay for this species based on a region of ITS rRNA in relation to abundance estimates from the cultured strain as determined using light microscopy. We used this tool to quantify and examine ecological drivers of P. minimum in Botany Bay, an estuary in southeast Australia, for over ~14 months in 2016–2017. We compared abundance estimates using qPCR with those obtained using molecular barcoding based on an 18S rRNA amplicon. There was a significant correlation between the abundance estimates from amplicon sequencing and qPCR, but the estimates from light microscopy were not significantly correlated, likely due to the counting method applied. Using amplicon sequencing, ~600 unique actual sequence variants (ASVs) were found, much larger than the known phytoplankton diversity from this region. P. minimum abundance in Botany Bay was found to be significantly associated with lower salinities and higher dissolved CO2 levels.
McNally, R, Alqudah, A, McErlean, EM, Rennie, C, Morshed, N, Short, A, McGrath, K, Shimoni, O, Robson, T, McCarthy, HO & McClements, L 2021, 'Non-Viral Gene Delivery Utilizing RALA Modulates sFlt-1 Secretion, Important for Preeclampsia', Nanomedicine, vol. 16, no. 22, pp. 1999-2012.
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Background: Overexpression of sFlt-1 or modulation of FKBPL, key antiangiogenic proteins, are important in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Methods: A newly developed nonviral gene-delivery system, RALA, capable of overexpressing sFlt-1 (e15a isoform) was delivered in vivo in transgenic haploinsufficient ( Fkbpl+/−) mice. RALA was also used in vitro to deliver human Flt1 (hFlt1) in trophoblast cells. Results: Serum stable and nontoxic RALA/DNA-based nanoparticles induced an increase in sFlt-1 protein levels in the blood and total protein in the urine; the effect was more pronounced in Fkbpl+/− mice. In vitro, RALA-hFlt nanoparticles significantly reduced secretion of sFlt-1 in trophoblast cells. Conclusion: The RALA-based genetic nanodelivery system can be safely and effectively applied to emulate preeclampsia-like features or reduce sFlt-1 levels in vitro.
McNaughton, DA, Fares, M, Picci, G, Gale, PA & Caltagirone, C 2021, 'Advances in fluorescent and colorimetric sensors for anionic species', Coordination Chemistry Reviews, vol. 427, pp. 213573-213573.
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McNeilly, O, Mann, R, Hamidian, M & Gunawan, C 2021, 'Emerging Concern for Silver Nanoparticle Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii and Other Bacteria', Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12.
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The misuse of antibiotics combined with a lack of newly developed ones is the main contributors to the current antibiotic resistance crisis. There is a dire need for new and alternative antibacterial options and nanotechnology could be a solution. Metal-based nanoparticles, particularly silver nanoparticles (NAg), have garnered widespread popularity due to their unique physicochemical properties and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Consequently, NAg has seen extensive incorporation in many types of products across the healthcare and consumer market. Despite clear evidence of the strong antibacterial efficacy of NAg, studies have raised concerns over the development of silver-resistant bacteria. Resistance to cationic silver (Ag+) has been recognised for many years, but it has recently been found that bacterial resistance to NAg is also possible. It is also understood that exposure of bacteria to toxic heavy metals like silver can induce the emergence of antibiotic resistance through the process of co-selection. Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative coccobacillus and opportunistic nosocomial bacterial pathogen. It was recently listed as the “number one” critical level priority pathogen because of the significant rise of antibiotic resistance in this species. NAg has proven bactericidal activity towards A. baumannii, even against strains that display multi-drug resistance. However, despite ample evidence of heavy metal (including silver; Ag+) resistance in this bacterium, combined with reports of heavy metal-driven co-selection of antibiotic resistance, little research has been dedicated to assessing the potential for NAg resistance development in A. baumannii. This is worrisome, as the increasingly indiscriminate use of NAg could promote the development of silver resistance in this species, like what has occurred w...
Meakin, GE, Kokshoorn, B, van Oorschot, RAH & Szkuta, B 2021, 'Evaluating forensic DNA evidence: Connecting the dots', WIREs Forensic Science, vol. 3, no. 4.
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AbstractTechnological developments within the field of forensic genetics have enhanced the sensitivity and specificity of DNA testing tremendously and have broadened the applications of biological evidence in criminal investigations. Evaluation and communication of the evidential findings within criminal cases have not maintained the same pace, which has largely stemmed from a failure to adopt a standardized approach within and across the various fields of forensic science. Within forensic biology, this has led to unjustified opinions on the weight of the evidence and occurrences of the association fallacy, when the weight of evidence given propositions at one level of the hierarchy of propositions is inappropriately transposed to a higher level. We further define the association fallacy to include the terms, “source level fallacy” and “activity level fallacy,” to enable the forensic science community to better identify and address issues in biological evidence evaluation. It is important to understand these concepts and their causes, and in doing so, identify potential avenues to avoid these fallacies in forensic science casework. These avenues include training and education of forensic and legal professionals, as well as research into transfer, persistence, prevalence and recovery (TPPR) of DNA and biological evidence in general.This article is categorized under:Forensic Biology > Interpretation of Biological Evidence
Mediati, DG, Lalaouna, D & Tree, JJ 2021, 'Burning the Candle at Both Ends: Have Exoribonucleases Driven Divergence of Regulatory RNA Mechanisms in Bacteria?', mBio, vol. 12, no. 4.
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Regulatory RNAs have emerged as ubiquitous gene regulators in all bacterial species studied to date. The combination of sequence-specific RNA interactions and malleable RNA structure has allowed regulatory RNA to adopt different mechanisms of gene regulation in a diversity of genetic backgrounds.
Mediati, DG, Wu, S, Wu, W & Tree, JJ 2021, 'Networks of Resistance: Small RNA Control of Antibiotic Resistance', Trends in Genetics, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 35-45.
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Mehraj, H, Takahashi, S, Miyaji, N, Akter, A, Suzuki, Y, Seki, M, Dennis, ES & Fujimoto, R 2021, 'Characterization of Histone H3 Lysine 4 and 36 Tri-methylation in Brassica rapa L.', Frontiers in Plant Science, vol. 12.
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Covalent modifications of histone proteins act as epigenetic regulators of gene expression. We report the distribution of two active histone marks (H3K4me3 and H3K36me3) in 14-day leaves in two lines of Brassica rapa L. by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. Both lines were enriched with H3K4me3 and H3K36me3 marks at the transcription start site, and the transcription level of a gene was associated with the level of H3K4me3 and H3K36me3. H3K4me3- and H3K36me3-marked genes showed low tissue-specific gene expression, and genes with both H3K4me3 and H3K36me3 had a high level of expression and were constitutively expressed. Bivalent active and repressive histone modifications such as H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 marks or antagonistic coexistence of H3K36me3 and H3K27me3 marks were observed in some genes. Expression may be susceptible to changes by abiotic and biotic stresses in genes having both H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 marks. We showed that the presence of H3K36me3 marks was associated with different gene expression levels or tissue specificity between paralogous paired genes, suggesting that H3K36me3 might be involved in subfunctionalization of the subgenomes.
Mehta, M, Malyla, V, Paudel, KR, Chellappan, DK, Hansbro, PM, Oliver, BG & Dua, K 2021, 'Berberine loaded liquid crystalline nanostructure inhibits cancer progression in adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells in vitro', Journal of Food Biochemistry, vol. 45, no. 11, p. e13954.
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Metastasis represents the leading cause of death in lung cancer patients. C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 8 (CXCL-8), Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20 (CCL-20) and heme oxygenase -1 (HO-1) play an important role in cancer cell proliferation and migration. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from several herbs in the Papaveraceae family that exhibits anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antidiabetic properties. Therefore, the aim of present study is to investigate the inhibitory potential of berberine monoolein loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (berberine-LCNs) against cancer progression. Berberine-LCNs were prepared by mixing berberine, monoolein and poloxamer 407 (P407) using ultrasonication method. A549 cells were treated with or without 5 µM dose of berberine LCNs for 24 hr and total cellular protein was extracted and further analyzed for the protein expression of CCl-20, CXCL-8 and HO-1 using human oncology array kit. Our results showed that berberine-LCNs significantly reduced the expression of CCl-20, CXCL-8 and HO-1 at dose of 5µM. Collectively, our findings suggest that berberine-LCNs have inhibitory effect on inflammation/oxidative stress related cytokines i.e. CCL20, CXCL-8, and HO-1 which could be a novel therapeutic target for the management of lung cancer. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from various plants of Papaveraceae family. CXCL-8, CCL-20 and HO-1 play an important role in cancer progression. Our study showed that Berberine LCNs significantly downregulate the expression of CXCL-8, CCL-20 and HO-1 which suggests that Berberine loaded nanoparticles could be a promising therapeutic alternative for the management of lung cancer.
Mehta, M, Paudel, KR, Panth, N, Xenaki, D, Macloughlin, R, Oliver, BG, Lobenberg, R, Hansbro, PM, Chellappan, DK & Dua, K 2021, 'Drug Delivery Advances in Mitigating Inflammation Via Matrix Metalloproteinases in Respiratory Diseases', Nanomedicine, vol. 16, no. 6, pp. 437-439.
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Mehta, M, Paudel, KR, Shukla, SD, Allam, VSRR, Kannaujiya, VK, Panth, N, Das, A, Parihar, VK, Chakraborty, A, Ali, MK, Jha, NK, Xenaki, D, Su, QP, Wich, PR, Adams, J, Hansbro, PM, Chellappan, DK, Oliver, BGG & Dua, K 2021, 'Recent trends of NFκB decoy oligodeoxynucleotide-based nanotherapeutics in lung diseases', Journal of Controlled Release, vol. 337, pp. 629-644.
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Mehta, M, Paudel, KR, Shukla, SD, Shastri, MD, Satija, S, Singh, SK, Gulati, M, Dureja, H, Zacconi, FC, Hansbro, PM, Chellappan, DK & Dua, K 2021, 'Rutin-Loaded Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles Attenuate Oxidative Stress in Bronchial Epithelial Cells: A PCR Validation', Future Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 543-549.
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Aim: In the present study, the inhibitory potential of rutin-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNs) on oxidative stress was determined in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) by analysing the expression levels of different antioxidant (NADPH quinine oxidoreductase-1 ( NQO1); γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase catalytic subunit ( GCLC)) and pro-oxidant (NADPH oxidase (Nox)-4; Nox2B) genes. Results: Our findings revealed that the rutin-loaded LCNs inhibited the genes, namely Nox2B and Nox4, which caused oxidative stress. In addition, these nanoparticles demonstrated an upregulation in the expression of the antioxidant genes Gclc and Nqo-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: The study indicates the promising potential of rutin-loaded LCNs as an effective treatment strategy in patients with high oxidant loads in various respiratory diseases.
Mehta, M, Satija, S, Paudel, KR, Malyla, V, Kannaujiya, VK, Chellappan, DK, Bebawy, M, Hansbro, PM, Wich, PR & Dua, K 2021, 'Targeting respiratory diseases using miRNA inhibitor based nanotherapeutics: Current status and future perspectives', Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, vol. 31, pp. 102303-102303.
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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a fundamental role in the developmental and physiological processes that occur in both animals and plants. AntagomiRs are synthetic antagonists of miRNA, prevent the target mRNA from suppression. Therapeutic approaches that modulate miRNAs have immense potential in the treatment of chronic respiratory disorders. However, the successful delivery of miRNAs/antagomiRs to the lungs remains a major challenge in clinical applications. A range of materials, namely, polymer nanoparticles, lipid nanocapsules and inorganic nanoparticles have shown promising results for intracellular delivery of miRNA in chronic respiratory disorders. This review discusses the current understanding of miRNA biology, the biological roles of antagomiRs in chronic respiratory disease and the recent advances in the therapeutic utilization of antagomiRs as disease biomarkers. Furthermore our review provides a common platform to debate on the nature of antagomiRs and also address the viewpoint on the new generation of delivery systems that target antagomiRs in respiratory diseases.
Mei, S, Zhou, J, Sun, H, Cai, Y, Sun, L, Jin, D & Yan, C 2021, 'Networking State of Ytterbium Ions Probing the Origin of Luminescence Quenching and Activation in Nanocrystals', Advanced Science, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 2003325-2003325.
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AbstractAt the organic–inorganic interface of nanocrystals, electron‐phonon coupling plays an important but intricate role in determining the diverse properties of nanomaterials. Here, it is reported that highly doping of Yb3+ ions within the nanocrystal host can form an energy‐migration network. The networking state Yb3+ shows both distinct Stark splitting peak ratios and lifetime dynamics, which allows quantitative investigations of quenching and thermal activation of luminescence, as the high‐dimensional spectroscopy signatures can be correlated to the attaching and de‐attaching status of surface molecules. By in‐situ surface characterizations, it is proved that the Yb‐O coordination associated with coordinated water molecules has significantly contributed to this reversible effect. Moreover, using this approach, the prime quencher OH can be switched to CH in the wet‐chemistry annealing process, resulting in the electron‐phonon coupling probability change. This study provides the molecular level insights and dynamics of the surface dark layer of luminescent nanocrystals.
Mello, MG, Westerhausen, MT, Singh, P, Doble, PA, Wanagat, J & Bishop, DP 2021, 'Assessing the reproducibility of labelled antibody binding in quantitative multiplexed immuno-mass spectrometry imaging', Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, vol. 413, no. 21, pp. 5509-5516.
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Immuno-mass spectrometry imaging (iMSI) uses laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to determine the spatial expression of biomolecules in tissue sections following immunolabelling with antibodies conjugated to a metal reporter. As with all immunolabelling techniques, the binding efficiency of multiplexed staining can be affected by a number of factors including epitope blocking and other forms of steric hindrance. To date, the effects on the binding of metal-conjugated antibodies to their epitopes in a multiplexed analysis have yet to be quantitatively explored by iMSI. Here we describe a protocol to investigate the effects of multiplexing on reproducible binding using the muscle proteins, dystrophin, sarcospan, and myosin as a model, with antibodies conjugated with Maxpar® reagents before histological application to murine quadriceps sections using standard immunolabelling protocols and imaging with LA-ICP-MS. The antibodies were each individually applied to eight sections, and multiplexed to another eight sections. The average concentrations of the lanthanide analytes were determined, before statistical analyses found there was no significant difference between the individual and multiplexed application of the antibodies. These analyses provide a framework for ensuring reproducibility of antibody binding during multiplexed iMSI, which will allow quantitative exploration of protein-protein interactions and provide a greater understanding of fundamental biological processes during healthy and diseased states.
Melo, EM, Oliveira, VLS, Boff, D & Galvão, I 2021, 'Pulmonary macrophages and their different roles in health and disease', The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, vol. 141, pp. 106095-106095.
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Mena, J, Ariyama, N, Navarro, C, Quezada, M, Brevis, C, Rojas, D, Medina, RA, Brito, B, Ruiz, Á & Neira, V 2021, 'Ubiquitous influenza A virus in Chilean swine before the H1N1pdm09 introduction', Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, vol. 68, no. 6, pp. 3174-3179.
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Mendelson, N, Chugh, D, Reimers, JR, Cheng, TS, Gottscholl, A, Long, H, Mellor, CJ, Zettl, A, Dyakonov, V, Beton, PH, Novikov, SV, Jagadish, C, Tan, HH, Ford, MJ, Toth, M, Bradac, C & Aharonovich, I 2021, 'Identifying carbon as the source of visible single-photon emission from hexagonal boron nitride', Nature Materials, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 321-328.
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Single-photon emitters (SPEs) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have garnered increasing attention over the last few years due to their superior optical properties. However, despite the vast range of experimental results and theoretical calculations, the defect structure responsible for the observed emission has remained elusive. Here, by controlling the incorporation of impurities into hBN via various bottom-up synthesis methods and directly through ion implantation, we provide direct evidence that the visible SPEs are carbon related. Room-temperature optically detected magnetic resonance is demonstrated on ensembles of these defects. We perform ion-implantation experiments and confirm that only carbon implantation creates SPEs in the visible spectral range. Computational analysis of the simplest 12 carbon-containing defect species suggest the negatively charged [Formula: see text] defect as a viable candidate and predict that out-of-plane deformations make the defect environmentally sensitive. Our results resolve a long-standing debate about the origin of single emitters at the visible range in hBN and will be key to the deterministic engineering of these defects for quantum photonic devices.
Mendelson, N, Morales‐Inostroza, L, Li, C, Ritika, R, Nguyen, MAP, Loyola‐Echeverria, J, Kim, S, Götzinger, S, Toth, M & Aharonovich, I 2021, 'Grain Dependent Growth of Bright Quantum Emitters in Hexagonal Boron Nitride', Advanced Optical Materials, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 2001271-2001271.
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AbstractPoint defects in hexagonal boron nitride have emerged as a promising quantum light source due to their bright and photostable room temperature emission. In this work, the incorporation of quantum emitters during chemical vapor deposition growth on a nickel substrate is studied. Combining a range of characterization techniques, it is demonstrated that the incorporation of quantum emitters is limited to (001) oriented nickel grains. Such emitters display improved emission properties in terms of brightness and stability. These emitters are further utilized and integrated with a compact optical antenna enhancing light collection from the sources. The hybrid device yields average saturation count rates of ≈2.9 × 106 cps and an average photon purity of g(2)(0) ≈ 0.1. The results advance the understanding of single photon emitter incorporation during chemical vapor deposition growth and demonstrate a key step towards compact devices for achieving maximum collection efficiency.
Menounos, S, Hansbro, PM, Diwan, AD & Das, A 2021, 'Pathophysiological Correlation between Cigarette Smoking and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis', NeuroSci, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 120-134.
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Cigarette smoke (CS) has been consistently demonstrated to be an environmental risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), although the molecular pathogenic mechanisms involved are yet to be elucidated. Here, we propose different mechanisms by which CS exposure can cause sporadic ALS pathogenesis. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are widely implicated in ALS pathogenesis, with blood–spinal cord barrier disruption also recognised to be involved in the disease process. In addition, immunometabolic, epigenetic and microbiome alterations have been implicated in ALS recently. Identification of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that underpin CS-associated ALS will drive future research to be conducted into new targets for treatment.
Messer, LF, Brown, MV, Van Ruth, PD, Doubell, M & Seymour, JR 2021, 'Temperate southern Australian coastal waters are characterised by surprisingly high rates of nitrogen fixation and diversity of diazotrophs', PeerJ, vol. 9, pp. e10809-e10809.
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Biological dinitrogen (N2) fixation is one mechanism by which specific microorganisms (diazotrophs) can ameliorate nitrogen (N) limitation. Historically, rates of N2 fixation were believed to be limited outside of the low nutrient tropical and subtropical open ocean; however, emerging evidence suggests that N2 fixation is also a significant process within temperate coastal waters. Using a combination of amplicon sequencing, targeting the nitrogenase reductase gene (nifH), quantitative nifH PCR, and 15N2 stable isotope tracer experiments, we investigated spatial patterns of diazotroph assemblage structure and N2 fixation rates within the temperate coastal waters of southern Australia during Austral autumn and summer. Relative to previous studies in open ocean environments, including tropical northern Australia, and tropical and temperate estuaries, our results indicate that high rates of N2 fixation (10–64 nmol L−1 d−1) can occur within the large inverse estuary Spencer Gulf, while comparatively low rates of N2 fixation (2 nmol L−1 d−1) were observed in the adjacent continental shelf waters. Across the dataset, low concentrations of NO3/NO2 were significantly correlated with the highest N2 fixation rates, suggesting that N2 fixation could be an important source of new N in the region as dissolved inorganic N concentrations are typically limiting. Overall, the underlying diazotrophic community was dominated by nifH sequences from Cluster 1 unicellular cyanobacteria of the UCYN-A clade, as well as non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs related to ...
Meyer, F, Lesker, T-R, Koslicki, D, Fritz, A, Gurevich, A, Darling, AE, Sczyrba, A, Bremges, A & McHardy, AC 2021, 'Tutorial: assessing metagenomics software with the CAMI benchmarking toolkit', Nature Protocols, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 1785-1801.
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Computational methods are key in microbiome research, and obtaining a quantitative and unbiased performance estimate is important for method developers and applied researchers. For meaningful comparisons between methods, to identify best practices and common use cases, and to reduce overhead in benchmarking, it is necessary to have standardized datasets, procedures and metrics for evaluation. In this tutorial, we describe emerging standards in computational meta-omics benchmarking derived and agreed upon by a larger community of researchers. Specifically, we outline recent efforts by the Critical Assessment of Metagenome Interpretation (CAMI) initiative, which supplies method developers and applied researchers with exhaustive quantitative data about software performance in realistic scenarios and organizes community-driven benchmarking challenges. We explain the most relevant evaluation metrics for assessing metagenome assembly, binning and profiling results, and provide step-by-step instructions on how to generate them. The instructions use simulated mouse gut metagenome data released in preparation for the second round of CAMI challenges and showcase the use of a repository of tool results for CAMI datasets. This tutorial will serve as a reference for the community and facilitate informative and reproducible benchmarking in microbiome research.
Mitchell, AB, Li, C-X, Oliver, BGG, Holmes, EC & Glanville, AR 2021, 'High-resolution Metatranscriptomic Characterization of the Pulmonary RNA Virome After Lung Transplantation', Transplantation, vol. 105, no. 12, pp. 2546-2553.
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Background. Lung transplantation provides a unique opportunity to investigate the constituents and temporal dynamics of the human pulmonary microbiome after lung transplantation. For methodological reasons, prior studies using metagenomics have detected DNA viruses but not demonstrated the presence of RNA viruses, including those that are common community acquired. In this proof-of-concept study, we aimed to further characterize the pulmonary microbiome after lung transplantation by using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), with a particular focus on the RNA virome. Methods. We performed a single-center longitudinal study of lower respiratory tract RNA viruses and bacteria using bronchoalveolar lavage at postoperative day 1 and week 6 analyzed with total RNA sequencing (metatranscriptomics). Five primary and 5 repeat transplant recipients were recruited. Results. mNGS identified 5 RNA viruses (nil in the normal saline control), including 4 species of human rhinovirus not previously reported in Australia: A7 (HRV-A7), C22 (HRV-C22), B52 (HRV-B52), and B72 (HRV-B72). Overall, 12/20 specimens were virus positive in 7/10 cases. Human parainfluenza virus 3 was the most frequent virus in 7/20 specimens in 5/10 cases. In this small study, we did not detect a significant difference in abundance and diversity of RNA viruses and bacteria at postoperative day 1 and 6 wk, nor differences between retransplant recipients and primary lung transplant recipients. Conclusions. Our study demonstrates how mNGS can also identify RNA viruses within the human pulmonary virome, ...
Miyaji, N, Akter, MA, Suzukamo, C, Mehraj, H, Shindo, T, Itabashi, T, Okazaki, K, Shimizu, M, Kaji, M, Katsumata, M, Dennis, ES & Fujimoto, R 2021, 'Development of a New DNA Marker for Fusarium Yellows Resistance in Brassica rapa Vegetables', Plants, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 1082-1082.
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In vegetables of Brassica rapa L., Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. rapae (For) or F. oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans (Foc) cause Fusarium yellows. A resistance gene against Foc (FocBr1) has been identified, and deletion of this gene results in susceptibility (focbr1-1). In contrast, a resistance gene against For has not been identified. Inoculation tests showed that lines resistant to Foc were also resistant to For, and lines susceptible to Foc were susceptible to For. However, prediction of disease resistance by a dominant DNA marker on FocBr1 (Bra012688m) was not associated with disease resistance of For in some komatsuna lines using an inoculation test. QTL-seq using four F2 populations derived from For susceptible and resistant lines showed one causative locus on chromosome A03, which covers FocBr1. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of FocBr1 between susceptible and resistant alleles (FocBr1 and FocBo1) showed that six amino acid differences were specific to susceptible lines. The presence and absence of FocBr1 is consistent with For resistance in F2 populations. These results indicate that FocBr1 is essential for For resistance, and changed amino acid sequences result in susceptibility to For. This susceptible allele is termed focbr1-2, and a new DNA marker (focbr1-2m) for detection of the focbr1-2 allele was developed.
Miyaji, N, Shimizu, M, Takasaki-Yasuda, T, Dennis, ES & Fujimoto, R 2021, 'The transcriptional response to salicylic acid plays a role in Fusarium yellows resistance in Brassica rapa L.', Plant Cell Reports, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 605-619.
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KEY MESSAGE: Fusarium yellows resistant and susceptible lines in Brassica rapa showed different salicylic acid responses; the resistant line showed a similar response to previous reports, but the susceptible line differed. Fusarium yellows caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans (Foc) is an important disease. Previous studies showed that genes related to salicylic acid (SA) response were more highly induced following Foc infection in Brassica rapa Fusarium yellows resistant lines than susceptible lines. However, SA-induced genes have not been identified at the whole genome level and it was unclear whether they were up-regulated by Foc inoculation. Transcriptome analysis with and without SA treatment in the B. rapa Fusarium yellows susceptible line 'Misugi' and the resistant line 'Nanane' was performed to obtain insights into the relationship between SA sensitivity/response and Fusarium yellows resistance. 'Nanane's up-regulated genes were related to SA response and down-regulated genes were related to jasmonic acid (JA) or ethylene (ET) response, but differentially expressed genes in 'Misugi' were not. This result suggests that Fusarium yellows resistant and susceptible lines have a different SA response and that an antagonistic transcription between SA and JA/ET responses was found only in a Fusarium yellows resistant line. SA-responsive genes were induced by Foc inoculation in Fusarium yellows resistant (RJKB-T23) and susceptible lines (RJKB-T24). By contrast, 39 SA-induced genes specific to RJKB-T23 might function in the defense response to Foc. In this study, SA-induced genes were identified at the whole genome level, and the possibility, the defense response to Foc observed in a resistant line could be mediated by SA-induced genes, is suggested. These results will be useful for future research concerning the SA importance in Foc or other diseases resistance in B. rapa.
Moecking, J, Laohamonthonkul, P, Chalker, K, White, MJ, Harapas, CR, Yu, C-H, Davidson, S, Hrovat-Schaale, K, Hu, D, Eng, C, Huntsman, S, Calleja, DJ, Horvat, JC, Hansbro, PM, O’Donoghue, RJJ, Ting, JP, Burchard, EG, Geyer, M, Gerlic, M & Masters, SL 2021, 'NLRP1 variant M1184V decreases inflammasome activation in the context of DPP9 inhibition and asthma severity', Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 147, no. 6, pp. 2134-2145.e20.
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Background
NLRP1 is an innate immune sensor that can form cytoplasmic inflammasome complexes. Polymorphisms in NLRP1 are linked to asthma; however, there is currently no functional or mechanistic explanation for this.Objective
We sought to clarify the role of NLRP1 in asthma pathogenesis.Methods
Results from the GALA II cohort study were used to identify a link between NLRP1 and asthma in Mexican Americans. In vitro and in vivo models for NLRP1 activation were applied to investigate the role of this inflammasome in asthma at the molecular level.Results
We document the association of an NLRP1 haplotype with asthma for which the single nucleotide polymorphism rs11651270 (M1184V) individually is the most significant. Surprisingly, M1184V increases NLRP1 activation in the context of N-terminal destabilization, but decreases NLRP1 activation on dipeptidyl peptidase 9 inhibition. In vitro studies demonstrate that M1184V increases binding to dipeptidyl peptidase 9, which can account for its inhibitory role in this context. In addition, in vivo data from a mouse model of airway inflammation reveal a protective role for NLRP1 inflammasome activation reducing eosinophilia in this setting.Conclusions
Linking our in vitro and in vivo results, we found that the NLRP1 variant M1184V reduces inflammasome activation in the context of dipeptidyl peptidase 9 inhibition and could thereby increase asthma severity. Our studies may have implications for the treatment of asthma in patients carrying this variant of NLRP1.
Moggridge, BJ 2021, 'Indigenous water knowledge and values in an Australasian context', Australasian Journal of Water Resources, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 1-3.
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Mohamed, AMT, Chan, H, Luhur, J, Bauda, E, Gallet, B, Morlot, C, Cole, L, Awad, M, Crawford, S, Lyras, D, Rudner, DZ & Rodrigues, CDA 2021, 'Chromosome Segregation and Peptidoglycan Remodeling Are Coordinated at a Highly Stabilized Septal Pore to Maintain Bacterial Spore Development', Developmental Cell, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 36-51.e5.
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Asymmetric division, a hallmark of endospore development, generates two cells, a larger mother cell and a smaller forespore. Approximately 75% of the forespore chromosome must be translocated across the division septum into the forespore by the DNA translocase SpoIIIE. Asymmetric division also triggers cell-specific transcription, which initiates septal peptidoglycan remodeling involving synthetic and hydrolytic enzymes. How these processes are coordinated has remained a mystery. Using Bacillus subtilis, we identified factors that revealed the link between chromosome translocation and peptidoglycan remodeling. In cells lacking these factors, the asymmetric septum retracts, resulting in forespore cytoplasmic leakage and loss of DNA translocation. Importantly, these phenotypes depend on septal peptidoglycan hydrolysis. Our data support a model in which SpoIIIE is anchored at the edge of a septal pore, stabilized by newly synthesized peptidoglycan and protein-protein interactions across the septum. Together, these factors ensure coordination between chromosome translocation and septal peptidoglycan remodeling to maintain spore development.
Mohd Yusop, AY, Xiao, L & Fu, S 2021, 'Fluorescence polarisation for high‐throughput screening of adulterated food products via phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition assay', Drug Testing and Analysis, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 953-964.
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AbstractThe surge in the consumption of food products containing herbal aphrodisiacs has driven their widespread adulteration. A rapid screening strategy is, therefore, warranted to curb this problem. This study established an enzyme inhibition assay to screen phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors as adulterants in selected food products. Fluorescein‐labelled cyclic‐3′,5′‐guanosine monophosphate was utilised as substrates for the PDE5A1 enzyme, aided by the presence of nanoparticle phosphate‐binding beads on their fluorescence polarisation. The sample preparation was optimised to improve the enzyme inhibition efficiency and applied to calculate the threshold values of six blank food matrices. The assay was validated using sildenafil, producing an IC50 of 4.2 nM. The applicability of the assay procedure was demonstrated by screening 55 distinct food samples. The results were subsequently verified using confirmatory liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry (LC‐HRMS) analysis. Altogether, 49 samples inhibited the PDE5 enzyme above the threshold values (75.7%–105.5%) and were registered as potentially adulterated samples. The remaining six samples were marked as nonadulterated with percentage inhibition below the threshold values (−3.3%–18.2%). The LC‐HRMS analysis agreed with the assay results for all food products except for the instant coffee premix (ICP) samples. False‐positive results were obtained for the ICP samples at 32% (8/25), due to possible PDE5 inhibition by caffeine. Contrarily, all other food samples were found to produce 0% (0/30) false‐positive or false‐negative results. The broad‐based assay, established via a simple mix‐incubate‐read format, exhibited promising potential for high‐throughput screening of PDE5 inhibitors in various food products, except those with naturally occurring phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as caffeine.
Mohd Yusop, AY, Xiao, L & Fu, S 2021, 'Liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis of erectile dysfunction drugs and their analogues in food products', Forensic Science International, vol. 322, pp. 110748-110748.
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The presence of erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs in adulterated dietary supplements, mainly in pharmaceutical dosage forms, is frequently addressed in the literature. Little attention is given to food products despite their increasing adulteration trend. To address this knowledge gap targeted, suspected-target, and non-targeted strategies were utilised to analyse ED drugs and their analogues in powdered drink mix (PDM), honey, jelly, hard candy, and sugar-coated chewing gum using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The method was optimised and validated using 23 target analytes, representing different ED drugs with structural similarities. The modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction exhibited insignificant matrix effect (ME) within -9.2%–8.8% and provided complete coverage of target analytes with acceptable extraction recovery (RE) within 75.5%–123.9%, except for carbodenafil in the PDM matrix. Based on the ME and RE performance, the analytical method was validated to analyse 25 food samples that claimed to enhance male sexual performance. The method exhibited good specificity and linearity with a limit of detection within 10–70 ng/mL and limit of quantification of 80 ng/mL. Similarly, the accuracy and precision were satisfactory within 77.4%–122.0% and <16.7%RSD, respectively. The LC-HRMS targeted analysis, together with suspected-target and non-targeted screenings, identified and detected ten ED drugs from 24 food samples. The modified QuEChERS extraction with LC-HRMS-based method was demonstrated to be universally applicable to various food products, covering an extensive range of known and potentially novel ED drugs, which is valuable for routine casework.
Mohd Yusop, AY, Xiao, L & Fu, S 2021, 'Suspected‐target and non‐targeted screenings of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors in herbal remedies using liquid chromatography–quadrupole time‐of‐flight–mass spectrometry', Drug Testing and Analysis, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 965-976.
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AbstractThe lucrative market of herbal remedies spurs rampant adulteration, particularly with pharmaceutical drugs and their unapproved analogues. A comprehensive screening strategy is, therefore, warranted to detect these adulterants and, accordingly, to safeguard public health. This study uses the data‐dependent acquisition of liquid chromatography‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight–mass spectrometry (LC–QTOF–MS) to screen phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors in herbal remedies using suspected‐target and non‐targeted strategies. For the suspected‐target screening, we used a library comprising 95 PDE5 inhibitors. For the non‐targeted screening, we adopted top‐down and bottom‐up approaches to flag novel PDE5 inhibitor analogues based on common fragmentation patterns. LC–QTOF–MS was optimised and validated for capsule and tablet dosage forms using 23 target analytes, selected to represent different groups of PDE5 inhibitors. The method exhibited excellent specificity and linearity with limit of detection and limit of quantification of <40 and 80 ng/mL, respectively. The accuracy ranged from 79.0% to 124.7% with a precision of <14.9% relative standard deviation. The modified, quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe extraction provided insignificant matrix effect within −9.1%–8.0% and satisfactory extraction recovery of 71.5%–105.8%. These strategies were used to screen 52 herbal remedy samples that claimed to enhance male sexual performance. The suspected‐target screening resulted in 33 positive samples, revealing 10 target analytes and 2 suspected analytes. Systematic MS and tandem MS interrogations using the non‐targeted screening returned insignificant signals, indicating the absence of potentially novel analogues. The target analytes were quantified from 0.03 to 121.31 mg per dose of each sample. The proposed strategies ensure that all PDE5 inhibitors are comprehensively screened, providing a useful tool to curb ...
Monaco, CJ, Booth, DJ, Figueira, WF, Gillanders, BM, Schoeman, DS, Bradshaw, CJA & Nagelkerken, I 2021, 'Natural and anthropogenic climate variability shape assemblages of range‐extending coral‐reef fishes', Journal of Biogeography, vol. 48, no. 5, pp. 1063-1075.
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AbstractAimClimate change is redistributing species globally, resulting in altered community structures and ecosystem functioning. The current paradigm is that species should track temperature isoclines along latitudinal and depth gradients to remain within their thermal niches. However, the many exceptions to this rule point to complex ecological and environmental processes often overlooked in statistical models predicting species redistributions. We tested the contributions of natural versus anthropogenic climate change to the long‐term spatio‐temporal dynamics of assemblages of range‐shifting tropical fishes at the leading edge of redistribution fronts.LocationEast coast of Australia.TaxonTropical coral‐reef fishes.MethodsWe analysed 16 years (2003–2018) of tropical species occurrences at two temperate locations using traditional diversity metrics (richness, accumulation curves and β‐diversity). We also quantified the role of primary environmental covariates and estimated species associations using joint species distribution models.ResultsWe reveal that tropical species richness has increased in this temperate ecosystem over time. Furthermore, we show that the richness of tropical vagrant species increased with the sea‐surface temperature experienced by both local vagrants and their putative source populations at the southern Great Barrier Reef, which accounted for 23.1% and 22.1% of the explained variance, respectively. We also detected a signal from El Niño‐Southern Oscillation, as species turnover and richness peaked during the strong La Niña event of 2010–2011.Main...
Monaco, CJ, Nagelkerken, I, Booth, DJ, Figueira, WF, Gillanders, BM, Schoeman, DS & Bradshaw, CJA 2021, 'Opposing life stage‐specific effects of ocean warming at source and sink populations of range‐shifting coral‐reef fishes', Journal of Animal Ecology, vol. 90, no. 3, pp. 615-627.
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AbstractClimate change is altering the latitudinal distributions of species, with their capacity to keep pace with a shifting climate depending on the stochastic expression of population growth rates, and the influence of compensatory density feedback on age‐specific survival rates. We use population‐abundance time series at the leading edge of an expanding species’ range to quantify the contribution of stochastic environmental drivers and density feedbacks to the dynamics of life stage‐specific population growth.Using a tropical, range‐shifting Indo‐Pacific damselfish (Abudefduf vaigiensis) as a model organism, we applied variants of the phenomenological Gompertz‐logistic model to a 14‐year dataset to quantify the relative importance of density feedback and stochastic environmental drivers on the separate and aggregated population growth rates of settler and juvenile life stages.The top‐ranked models indicated that density feedback negatively affected the growth of tropical settlers and juveniles. Rates of settlement were negatively linked to temperatures experienced by parents at potential source populations in the tropics, but their subsequent survival and that of juveniles increased with the temperatures experienced at the temperate sink. Including these stochastic effects doubled the deviance explained by the models, corroborating an important role of temperature. By incorporating sea‐surface temperature projections for the remainder of this century into these models, we anticipate improved conditions for the population growth of juvenile coral‐reef fishes, but not for settlers in temperate ecosystems.Previous research has highlighted the association between temperature and the redistribution of spe...
Morris, S, Wright, K, Malyla, V, Britton, WJ, Hansbro, PM, Manuneedhi Cholan, P & Oehlers, SH 2021, 'Exposure to the gut microbiota from cigarette smoke-exposed mice exacerbates cigarette smoke extract-induced inflammation in zebrafish larvae', Current Research in Immunology, vol. 2, pp. 229-236.
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Morshedi Rad, D, Alsadat Rad, M, Razavi Bazaz, S, Kashaninejad, N, Jin, D & Ebrahimi Warkiani, M 2021, 'A Comprehensive Review on Intracellular Delivery', Advanced Materials, vol. 33, no. 13, pp. e2005363-2005363.
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AbstractIntracellular delivery is considered an indispensable process for various studies, ranging from medical applications (cell‐based therapy) to fundamental (genome‐editing) and industrial (biomanufacture) approaches. Conventional macroscale delivery systems critically suffer from such issues as low cell viability, cytotoxicity, and inconsistent material delivery, which have opened up an interest in the development of more efficient intracellular delivery systems. In line with the advances in microfluidics and nanotechnology, intracellular delivery based on micro‐ and nanoengineered platforms has progressed rapidly and held great promises owing to their unique features. These approaches have been advanced to introduce a smorgasbord of diverse cargoes into various cell types with the maximum efficiency and the highest precision. This review differentiates macro‐, micro‐, and nanoengineered approaches for intracellular delivery. The macroengineered delivery platforms are first summarized and then each method is categorized based on whether it employs a carrier‐ or membrane‐disruption‐mediated mechanism to load cargoes inside the cells. Second, particular emphasis is placed on the micro‐ and nanoengineered advances in the delivery of biomolecules inside the cells. Furthermore, the applications and challenges of the established and emerging delivery approaches are summarized. The topic is concluded by evaluating the future perspective of intracellular delivery toward the micro‐ and nanoengineered approaches.
Mote, S, Gupta, V, De, K, Nanajkar, M, Damare, SR & Ingole, B 2021, 'Bacterial diversity associated with a newly described bioeroding sponge, Cliona thomasi, from the coral reefs on the West Coast of India', Folia Microbiologica, vol. 66, no. 2, pp. 203-211.
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Munoz, MA, Fletcher, EK, Skinner, OP, Jurczyluk, J, Kristianto, E, Hodson, MP, Sun, S, Ebetino, FH, Croucher, DR, Hansbro, PM, Center, JR & Rogers, MJ 2021, 'Bisphosphonate drugs have actions in the lung and inhibit the mevalonate pathway in alveolar macrophages', eLife, vol. 10, pp. 1-15.
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Bisphosphonates drugs target the skeleton and are used globally for the treatment of common bone disorders. Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates act by inhibiting the mevalonate pathway in bone-resorbing osteoclasts but, surprisingly, also appear to reduce the risk of death from pneumonia. We overturn the long-held belief that these drugs act only in the skeleton and show that a fluorescently labelled bisphosphonate is internalised by alveolar macrophages and large peritoneal macrophages in vivo. Furthermore, a single dose of a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate (zoledronic acid) in mice was sufficient to inhibit the mevalonate pathway in tissue-resident macrophages, causing the build-up of a mevalonate metabolite and preventing protein prenylation. Importantly, one dose of bisphosphonate enhanced the immune response to bacterial endotoxin in the lung and increased the level of cytokines and chemokines in bronchoalveolar fluid. These studies suggest that bisphosphonates, as well as preventing bone loss, may boost immune responses to infection in the lung and provide a mechanistic basis to fully examine the potential of bisphosphonates to help combat respiratory infections that cause pneumonia.
Muus, C, Luecken, MD, Eraslan, G, Sikkema, L, Waghray, A, Heimberg, G, Kobayashi, Y, Vaishnav, ED, Subramanian, A, Smillie, C, Jagadeesh, KA, Duong, ET, Fiskin, E, Torlai Triglia, E, Ansari, M, Cai, P, Lin, B, Buchanan, J, Chen, S, Shu, J, Haber, AL, Chung, H, Montoro, DT, Adams, T, Aliee, H, Allon, SJ, Andrusivova, Z, Angelidis, I, Ashenberg, O, Bassler, K, Bécavin, C, Benhar, I, Bergenstråhle, J, Bergenstråhle, L, Bolt, L, Braun, E, Bui, LT, Callori, S, Chaffin, M, Chichelnitskiy, E, Chiou, J, Conlon, TM, Cuoco, MS, Cuomo, ASE, Deprez, M, Duclos, G, Fine, D, Fischer, DS, Ghazanfar, S, Gillich, A, Giotti, B, Gould, J, Guo, M, Gutierrez, AJ, Habermann, AC, Harvey, T, He, P, Hou, X, Hu, L, Hu, Y, Jaiswal, A, Ji, L, Jiang, P, Kapellos, TS, Kuo, CS, Larsson, L, Leney-Greene, MA, Lim, K, Litviňuková, M, Ludwig, LS, Lukassen, S, Luo, W, Maatz, H, Madissoon, E, Mamanova, L, Manakongtreecheep, K, Leroy, S, Mayr, CH, Mbano, IM, McAdams, AM, Nabhan, AN, Nyquist, SK, Penland, L, Poirion, OB, Poli, S, Qi, C, Queen, R, Reichart, D, Rosas, I, Schupp, JC, Shea, CV, Shi, X, Sinha, R, Sit, RV, Slowikowski, K, Slyper, M, Smith, NP, Sountoulidis, A, Strunz, M, Sullivan, TB, Sun, D, Talavera-López, C, Tan, P, Tantivit, J, Travaglini, KJ, Tucker, NR, Vernon, KA, Wadsworth, MH, Waldman, J, Wang, X, Xu, K, Yan, W, Zhao, W, Ziegler, CGK, Deutsch, GH, Dutra, J, Gaulton, KJ, Holden-Wiltse, J, Huyck, HL, Mariani, TJ, Misra, RS, Poole, C, Preissl, S, Pryhuber, GS, Rogers, L, Sun, X, Wang, A, Whitsett, JA, Xu, Y, Alladina, J, Banovich, NE, Barbry, P, Beane, JE, Bhattacharyya, RP, Black, KE, Brazma, A, Campbell, JD, Cho, JL, Collin, J, Conrad, C, de Jong, K, Desai, T, Ding, DZ, Eickelberg, O, Eils, R, Ellinor, PT, Faiz, A, Falk, CS, Farzan, M, Gellman, A, Getz, G, Glass, IA, Greka, A, Haniffa, M, Hariri, LP, Hennon, MW, Horvath, P, Hübner, N, Hung, DT, Huyck, HL, Janssen, WJ, Juric, D, Kaminski, N, Koenigshoff, M, Koppelman, GH, Krasnow, MA, Kropski, JA, Kuhnemund, M, Lafyatis, R, Lako, M, Lander, ES, Lee, H, Lenburg, ME, Marquette, C-H, Metzger, RJ, Linnarsson, S, Liu, G, Lo, YMD, Lundeberg, J, Marioni, JC, Mazzilli, SA, Medoff, BD, Meyer, KB, Miao, Z, Misharin, AV, Nawijn, MC, Nikolić, MZ, Noseda, M, Ordovas-Montanes, J, Oudit, GY, Pe’er, D, Powell, JE, Quake, SR, Rajagopal, J, Tata, PR, Rawlins, EL, Regev, A, Reid, ME, Reyfman, PA, Rieger-Christ, KM, Rojas, M & et al. 2021, 'Single-cell meta-analysis of SARS-CoV-2 entry genes across tissues and demographics', Nature Medicine, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 546-559.
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Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and accessory proteases (TMPRSS2 and CTSL) are needed for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cellular entry, and their expression may shed light on viral tropism and impact across the body. We assessed the cell-type-specific expression of ACE2, TMPRSS2 and CTSL across 107 single-cell RNA-sequencing studies from different tissues. ACE2, TMPRSS2 and CTSL are coexpressed in specific subsets of respiratory epithelial cells in the nasal passages, airways and alveoli, and in cells from other organs associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission or pathology. We performed a meta-analysis of 31 lung single-cell RNA-sequencing studies with 1,320,896 cells from 377 nasal, airway and lung parenchyma samples from 228 individuals. This revealed cell-type-specific associations of age, sex and smoking with expression levels of ACE2, TMPRSS2 and CTSL. Expression of entry factors increased with age and in males, including in airway secretory cells and alveolar type 2 cells. Expression programs shared by ACE2+TMPRSS2+ cells in nasal, lung and gut tissues included genes that may mediate viral entry, key immune functions and epithelial-macrophage cross-talk, such as genes involved in the interleukin-6, interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor and complement pathways. Cell-type-specific expression patterns may contribute to the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and our work highlights putative molecular pathways for therapeutic intervention.
Naidu, V, Shah, B, Kamath, KS, Chien, A, Nagy, S, Pokhrel, A, Molloy, M, Hassan, KA & Paulsen, IT 2021, 'Identification of a Novel Ciprofloxacin Tolerance Gene, aciT , Which Contributes to Filamentation in Acinetobacter baumannii', Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, vol. 65, no. 6.
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Fluoroquinolones are one of the most prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, their effectiveness is being compromised by high rates of resistance in clinically important organisms, including Acinetobacter baumannii .
Nair, HAS, Subramoni, S, Poh, WH, Hasnuddin, NTB, Tay, M, Givskov, M, Tolker-Nielsen, T, Kjelleberg, S, McDougald, D & Rice, SA 2021, 'Carbon starvation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms selects for dispersal insensitive mutants', BMC Microbiology, vol. 21, no. 1, p. 255.
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Abstract Background Biofilms disperse in response to specific environmental cues, such as reduced oxygen concentration, changes in nutrient concentration and exposure to nitric oxide. Interestingly, biofilms do not completely disperse under these conditions, which is generally attributed to physiological heterogeneity of the biofilm. However, our results suggest that genetic heterogeneity also plays an important role in the non-dispersing population of P. aeruginosa in biofilms after nutrient starvation. Results In this study, 12.2% of the biofilm failed to disperse after 4 d of continuous starvation-induced dispersal. Cells were recovered from the dispersal phase as well as the remaining biofilm. For 96 h starved biofilms, rugose small colony variants (RSCV) were found to be present in the biofilm, but were not observed in the dispersal effluent. In contrast, wild type and small colony variants (SCV) were found in high numbers in the dispersal phase. Genome sequencing of these variants showed that most had single nucleotide mutations in genes associated with biofilm formation, e.g. in wspF, pilT, fha1 and aguR. Complementation of those mutations restored starvation-induced dispersal from the biofilms. Because c-di-GMP is linked to biofilm formation and dispersal, we introduced a c-di-GMP reporter into the wild-type P. aeruginosa and monitored green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression before and after starvation-induced dispersal. Post dispersal, the microcolonies were smaller and significantly brighter in GFP intensity, suggesting the relative concentration of c-di-GMP per cell within the microcolonies was also i...
Nair, PC, Gillani, TB, Rawling, T & Murray, M 2021, 'Differential inhibition of human CYP2C8 and molecular docking interactions elicited by sorafenib and its major N-oxide metabolite', Chemico-Biological Interactions, vol. 338, pp. 109401-109401.
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The tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib (SOR) is being used increasingly in combination with other anticancer agents like paclitaxel, but this increases the potential for drug toxicity. SOR inhibits several human CYPs, including CYP2C8, which is a major enzyme in the elimination of oncology drugs like paclitaxel and imatinib. It has been reported that CYP2C8 inhibition by SOR in human liver microsomes is potentiated by NADPH-dependent biotransformation. This implicates a SOR metabolite in enhanced inhibition, although the identity of that metabolite is presently unclear. The present study evaluated the capacity of the major N-oxide metabolite of SOR (SNO) to inhibit CYP2C8-dependent paclitaxel 6α-hydroxylation. The IC50 of SNO against CYP2C8 activity was found to be 3.7-fold lower than that for the parent drug (14 μM versus 51 μM). In molecular docking studies, both SOR and SNO interacted with active site residues in CYP2C8, but four additional major hydrogen and halogen bonding interactions were identified between SNO and amino acids in the B-B' loop region and helixes F' and I that comprise the catalytic region of the enzyme. In contrast, the binding of both SOR and SNO to active site residues in the closely related human CYP2C9 enzyme was similar, as were the IC50s determined against CYP2C9-mediated losartan oxidation. These findings suggest that the active metabolite SNO could impair the elimination of coadministered drugs that are substrates for CYP2C8, and mediate toxic adverse events, perhaps in those individuals in whom SNO is formed extensively.
Nan, J, Guo, X, Xiao, J, Li, X, Chen, W, Wu, W, Liu, H, Wang, Y, Wu, M & Wang, G 2021, 'Nanoengineering of 2D MXene‐Based Materials for Energy Storage Applications', Small, vol. 17, no. 9, pp. 1902085-1902085.
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Abstract2D MXene‐based nanomaterials have attracted tremendous attention because of their unique physical/chemical properties and wide range of applications in energy storage, catalysis, electronics, optoelectronics, and photonics. However, MXenes and their derivatives have many inherent limitations in terms of energy storage applications. In order to further improve their performance for practical application, the nanoengineering of these 2D materials is extensively investigated. In this Review, the latest research and progress on 2D MXene‐based nanostructures is introduced and discussed, focusing on their preparation methods, properties, and applications for energy storage such as lithium‐ion batteries, sodium‐ion batteries, lithium–sulfur batteries, and supercapacitors. Finally, the critical challenges and perspectives required to be addressed for the future development of these 2D MXene‐based materials for energy storage applications are presented.
Nazrul Islam, SMK, Mayank, P, Ouyang, Y, Chen, J, Sagotra, AK, Li, M, Cortie, MB, Mole, R, Cazorla, C, Yu, D, Wang, X, Robinson, RA & Cortie, DL 2021, 'Copper diffusion rates and hopping pathways in superionic Cu2Se', Acta Materialia, vol. 215, pp. 117026-117026.
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Neira, V, Brito, B, Agüero, B, Berrios, F, Valdés, V, Gutierrez, A, Ariyama, N, Espinoza, P, Retamal, P, Holmes, EC, Gonzalez-Reiche, AS, Khan, Z, van de Guchte, A, Dutta, J, Miorin, L, Kehrer, T, Galarce, N, Almonacid, LI, Levican, J, van Bakel, H, García-Sastre, A & Medina, RA 2021, 'A household case evidences shorter shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in naturally infected cats compared to their human owners', Emerging Microbes & Infections, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 376-383.
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Nemani, SSP, Vermeulen, CJ, Pech, M, Faiz, A, Oliver, BGG, van den Berge, M, Burgess, JK, Kopp, MV & Weckmann, M 2021, 'COL4A3expression in asthmatic epithelium depends on intronic methylation and ZNF263 binding', ERJ Open Research, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 00802-2020.
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BackgroundReduction of COL4A3, one of the six isoforms of collagen 4, in asthmatic airways results in increased inflammation and angiogenesis, implicating it as a central part of asthma pathogenesis. However, to date, the path underlying these diminished COL4A3 levels has been elusive. This study investigated a possible mechanism underlying the reduction of COL4A3 expression.MethodsBronchial biopsies of 76 patients with asthma and 83 controls were subjected to RNA-sequencing and DNA methylation bead arrays to identify expression and methylation changes. The binding of ZNF263 was analysed by chromatin-immunoprecipitation sequencing coupled with quantitative (q)PCR. Effects ofZNF263silencing, using small interfering RNA, on theCOL4A3expression were studied using qPCR.ResultsCOL4A3expression was significantly reduced in bronchial biopsies compared to healthy controls, whereas DNA methylation levels at cg11797365 were increased.COL4A3expression levels were significantly low in asthmatics without inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use, whereas the expression was not statistically different between asthmatics using ICS and controls. Methylation levels at cg11797365in vitrowere increased upon consecutive rhinovirus infections.ConclusionOur data indicate an epigenetic modification as a contributing factor for the loss ofCOL4A3expression in asthmatic airway epithelium.
Nguyen, AQ, Vu, HP, Nguyen, LN, Wang, Q, Djordjevic, SP, Donner, E, Yin, H & Nghiem, LD 2021, 'Monitoring antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment: Current strategies and future challenges', Science of The Total Environment, vol. 783, pp. 146964-146964.
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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat to human and animal health. Progress in molecular biology has revealed new and significant challenges for AMR mitigation given the immense diversity of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), the complexity of ARG transfer, and the broad range of omnipresent factors contributing to AMR. Municipal, hospital and abattoir wastewater are collected and treated in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), where the presence of diverse selection pressures together with a highly concentrated consortium of pathogenic/commensal microbes create favourable conditions for the transfer of ARGs and proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). The rapid emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens of clinical and veterinary significance over the past 80 years has re-defined the role of WWTPs as a focal point in the fight against AMR. By reviewing the occurrence of ARGs in wastewater and sludge and the current technologies used to quantify ARGs and identify ARB, this paper provides a research roadmap to address existing challenges in AMR control via wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment is a double-edged sword that can act as either a pathway for AMR spread or as a barrier to reduce the environmental release of anthropogenic AMR. State of the art ARB identification technologies, such as metagenomic sequencing and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, have enriched ARG/ARB databases, unveiled keystone species in AMR networks, and improved the resolution of AMR dissemination models. Data and information provided in this review highlight significant knowledge gaps. These include inconsistencies in ARG reporting units, lack of ARG/ARB monitoring surrogates, lack of a standardised protocol for determining ARG removal via wastewater treatments, and the inability to support appropriate risk assessment. This is due to a lack of standard monitoring targets and agreed threshold values, and paucity of information on the ARG-pat...
Nguyen, HM, Bulleri, F, Marín-Guirao, L, Pernice, M & Procaccini, G 2021, 'Photo-physiology and morphology reveal divergent warming responses in northern and southern hemisphere seagrasses', Marine Biology, vol. 168, no. 8.
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Nguyen, HM, Ralph, PJ, Marín‐Guirao, L, Pernice, M & Procaccini, G 2021, 'Seagrasses in an era of ocean warming: a review', Biological Reviews, vol. 96, no. 5, pp. 2009-2030.
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ABSTRACTSeagrasses are valuable sources of food and habitat for marine life and are one of Earth's most efficient carbon sinks. However, they are facing a global decline due to ocean warming and eutrophication. In the last decade, with the advent of new technology and molecular advances, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of studies focusing on the effects of ocean warming on seagrasses. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the future of seagrasses in an era of ocean warming. We have gathered information from published studies to identify potential commonalities in the effects of warming and the responses of seagrasses across four distinct levels: molecular, biochemical/physiological, morphological/population, and ecosystem/planetary. To date, we know that although warming strongly affects seagrasses at all four levels, seagrass responses diverge amongst species, populations, and over depths. Furthermore, warming alters seagrass distribution causing massive die‐offs in some seagrass populations, whilst also causing tropicalization and migration of temperate species. In this review, we evaluate the combined effects of ocean warming with other environmental stressors and emphasize the need for multiple‐stressor studies to provide a deeper understanding of seagrass resilience. We conclude by discussing the most significant knowledge gaps and future directions for seagrass research.
Nguyen, LN, Vu, MT, Abu Hasan Johir, M, Pernice, M, Ngo, HH, Zdarta, J, Jesionowski, T & Nghiem, LD 2021, 'Promotion of direct interspecies electron transfer and potential impact of conductive materials in anaerobic digestion and its downstream processing - a critical review', Bioresource Technology, vol. 341, pp. 125847-125847.
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Nguyen, LT, Saad, S, Shi, Y, Wang, R, Chou, ASY, Gill, A, Yao, Y, Jarolimek, W & Pollock, CA 2021, 'Lysyl oxidase inhibitors attenuate cyclosporin A-induced nephropathy in mouse', Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1.
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AbstractCalcineurin inhibitors, such as Cyclosporin (CsA), are the mainstay of anti-rejection therapy in solid organ transplants but can paradoxically induce progressive nephropathy characterised by renal dysfunction and interstitial fibrosis. Lysyl oxidases (LOXs), a group of enzymes that catalyse extracellular matrix (ECM) crosslinking, were shown to implicate in tissue scarring. It is hypothesized that inhibition of these enzymes may render therapeutic effects against CsA-induced nephropathy. In this study, 6-to-8 weeks old C57BL/6 J mice were administered saline or CsA (30 mg/kg/day s.c) for 16 weeks. At 8 weeks, CsA-treated animals were divided into 5 groups respectively treated with: (1) vehicle, (2) PXS-5505 (Pan-LOX inhibitor), (3) PXS-5382 (LOX-like 2 inhibitor), (4) PXS-5505 for 4 weeks then PXS-5382 for 4 weeks (sequential therapy), and (5) Telmisartan (standard therapy). Our results indicate that CsA administration significantly increased the levels of blood urea nitrogen, glomerular and tubular injury, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress in mouse kidney. These changes were associated with upregulated mRNA expression of LOX and LOXL2. Administration of Pan-LOX or LOXL2 inhibitors or the sequential therapy suppressed the expression of ECM proteins (α-SMA, FN and COL1A), matrix metalloproteases (MMP)2 and 9, inflammatory markers (TNFα and MCP-1) and TGF-β1-Smad3 signalling. Among all regimens including telmisartan, only Pan-LOX inhibitor PXS-5505 was able to attenuate uraemia. Collectively, our study suggests that Pan-LOX and LOXL2 inhibition can attenuate progressive nephropathy due to CsA administration.
Nguyen, MAP, Hite, J, Mastro, MA, Kianinia, M, Toth, M & Aharonovich, I 2021, 'Site control of quantum emitters in gallium nitride by polarity', Applied Physics Letters, vol. 118, no. 2, pp. 1-6.
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Gallium nitride (GaN) is a promising platform for integrated nanophotonic circuitry due to highly versatile growth protocols for the material. With the discovery of quantum emitters hosted by its lattice, potential applications of GaN have expanded to quantum-based technologies, despite the fact that the atomic structures of the emitters are unknown. Thus, we investigate the nature of quantum emitters grown in various samples of differing growth orientations—namely, Ga-polar, N-polar, and a combination of the two in an alternating periodic pattern. We showcase the unique growth technique used to fabricate these samples and characterize the emitters that form as a result. Through measurements of photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence, and Raman spectroscopy, we observe consistent formation of quantum emitters within Ga-polar regions of the grown GaN, attributed to overall defectivity caused by the specific growth procedure used to synthesize Ga-polar GaN. Our findings shed light onto the origins of the quantum emitters and are used to demonstrate site-selective formation of the emitters in GaN.
Nguyen, VK, King, WL, Siboni, N, Mahbub, KR, Rahman, MH, Jenkins, C, Dove, M, O'Connor, W, Seymour, JR & Labbate, M 2021, 'Dynamics of the Sydney rock oyster microbiota before and during a QX disease event', Aquaculture, vol. 541, pp. 736821-736821.
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The Sydney rock oyster (SRO; Saccostrea glomerata) is the most intensively farmed oyster species in Australia however, Queensland unknown (QX) disease has resulted in substantial losses and impeded productivity. QX disease is caused by infection with the parasite Marteilia sydneyi, and like other diseases, outbreaks are driven by a series of complex environmental and host factors such as seasonality, seawater salinity and oyster genetics. A potential but understudied factor in QX disease is the SRO microbiota, which we sought to examine before and during a QX disease outbreak. Using 16S rRNA (V1 – V3 region) amplicon sequencing, we examined the microbiota of SROs deployed in an estuary where QX disease occurs, with sampling conducted fortnightly over 22 weeks. Marteilia sydneyi was detected in the SROs by PCR (QX-positive), 16 weeks after the first sampling event and sporonts were observed in the digestive gland two weeks later on. There were no apparent patterns observed between the microbiota of QX-positive SROs with and without digestive gland sporonts however, the microbiota of QX-positive SROs was significantly different from those sampled prior to detection of M. sydneyi and from those negative for M. sydneyi post detection. As a result, shifts in microbiota structure occurred before sporulation in the digestive gland and either before or shortly after pathogen colonisation. The microbiota shifts associated with QX-positive oysters were principally driven by a relative abundance increase of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) assigned to unclassified species of the Borrelia and Candidatus Hepatoplasma genera and a relative abundance decrease in an OTU assigned to an unclassified species of the Mycoplasma genus. Since Mycoplasma species are common microbiota features of SROs and other oysters, we propose that there may be an important ecological link between Mycoplasma species and the health state of SROs.
Niaz, A, Karunia, J, Mandwie, M, Keay, KA, Musumeci, G, Al-Badri, G & Castorina, A 2021, 'Robust Dopaminergic Differentiation and Enhanced LPS-Induced Neuroinflammatory Response in Serum-Deprived Human SH-SY5Y Cells: Implication for Parkinson’s Disease', Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 565-582.
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Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative condition characterized by motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, resting tremor, and rigidity. PD diagnosis is based on medical history, review of signs, symptoms, neurological and physical examinations. Unfortunately, by the time the disease is diagnosed, dopamine (DA) neuronal loss is often extended, thereby resulting in ineffective therapies. Recent evidence suggests that neuroinflammation may be pivotal during PD onset and progression. However, suitable cellular models and biomarkers to detect early signs of neuroinflammation are still missing. In this study, we developed a well-differentiated DAergic neuronal cell line where we triggered a neuroinflammatory response to assess the temporal expression of the tissue- and urokinase plasminogen activators (tPA and uPA) and their endogenous inhibitor (PAI-1) along with that of pro-inflammatory mediators and the neuronal marker nNOS. Human neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y were differentiated into DAergic neuronal-like cells using a combination of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and serum depletion. Terminally-differentiated neurons were then exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for short (up to 24 h) or long term (up to 10 days) to mimic acute or chronic inflammation. Results demonstrated that uPA protein expression was stably upregulated during chronic inflammation, whereas the expression of nNOS protein better reflected the cellular response to acute inflammation. Additional studies revealed that the temporal induction of uPA was associated with increased AKT phosphorylation, but did not seem to involve cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) activation, nor the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In conclusion, our in vitro data suggests that nNOS and uPA may serve as viable candidate biomarkers of acute and chronic neuroinflammation.
Nielsen, DA, Fierer, N, Geoghegan, JL, Gillings, MR, Gumerov, V, Madin, JS, Moore, L, Paulsen, IT, Reddy, TBK, Tetu, SG & Westoby, M 2021, 'Aerobic bacteria and archaea tend to have larger and more versatile genomes', Oikos, vol. 130, no. 4, pp. 501-511.
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A recent compilation of traits across culturable species of bacteria and archaea allows relationships to be quantified between genome size and other traits and habitat. Cell morphology, size, motility, sporulation and doubling time were not strongly correlated with genome size. Aerobic species averaged ca 35% larger genomes than anaerobic, adjusted for growth temperature. Aerobes had a similar mix of gene functions compared to anaerobes of the same genome size. Shifting proportions of aerobes to anaerobes accounted for about half of previously‐known differences in mean genome size between habitats. One possible factor in these results could be if effective population sizes are larger for aerobes, reducing the potential for gene loss via genetic drift. Larger genomes also confer versatility. They can transport and metabolise a wider range of substrates. More of their genome is engaged in signal detection and response, indicating they benefit from different resources at different times or under different condition. Aerobic habitats might well present opportunities and challenges that vary through time more than anaerobic habitats. The genome size trait‐dimension contributes a useful quantitative descriptor for ecological strategies.
Nieves, OA, Arnold, MD, Schmidt, MK, Steel, MJ & Poulton, CG 2021, 'Noise in Brillouin based information storage', Optics Express, vol. 29, no. 24, pp. 39486-39486.
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We theoretically and numerically study the efficiency of Brillouin-based opto-acoustic data storage in a photonic waveguide in the presence of thermal noise and laser phase noise. We compare the physics of the noise processes and how they affect different storage techniques, examining both amplitude and phase storage schemes. We investigate the effects of storage time and pulse properties on the quality of the retrieved signal and find that phase storage is less sensitive to thermal noise than amplitude storage.
Nieves, OA, Arnold, MD, Steel, MJ, Schmidt, MK & Poulton, CG 2021, 'Numerical simulation of noise in pulsed Brillouin scattering', Journal of the Optical Society of America B, vol. 38, no. 8, pp. 2343-2343.
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We present a numerical method for modeling noise in stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). The model applies to dynamic cases such as optical pulses and accounts for both thermal noise and phase noise from the input lasers. Using this model, we compute the statistical properties of the optical and acoustic power in the pulsed spontaneous and stimulated Brillouin cases, and investigate the effects of gain and pulse width on noise levels. We find that thermal noise plays an important role in the statistical properties of the fields and that laser phase noise impacts the SBS interaction when the laser coherence time is close to the time scale of the optical pulses. This algorithm is applicable to arbitrary waveguide geometries and material properties and, thus, presents a versatile way of performing noise-based SBS numerical simulations, which are important in signal processing, sensing, microwave photonics, and opto-acoustic memory storage.
Nikolaeva, A, Frizyuk, K, Olekhno, N, Solntsev, A & Petrov, M 2021, 'Directional emission of down-converted photons from a dielectric nanoresonator', Physical Review A, vol. 103, no. 4, p. 043703.
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Creation of entangled photon pairs is one of the key topics in contemporary quantum optics. In the present article, we theoretically describe the generation of photon pairs in the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion of light by a resonant spherical nanoparticle made of a dielectric material with bulk ˆχ(2) nonlinearity. We consider the nanoparticle size that satisfies the condition of excitation of resonant eigenmodes described by Mie theory. We demonstrate that a highly directional photon pair generation can be observed utilizing the nonlinear Kerker-type effect, and that this regime provides useful polarization correlations between the emitted photons.
Nolan, RH, Bowman, DMJS, Clarke, H, Haynes, K, Ooi, MKJ, Price, OF, Williamson, GJ, Whittaker, J, Bedward, M, Boer, MM, Cavanagh, VI, Collins, L, Gibson, RK, Griebel, A, Jenkins, ME, Keith, DA, Mcilwee, AP, Penman, TD, Samson, SA, Tozer, MG & Bradstock, RA 2021, 'What Do the Australian Black Summer Fires Signify for the Global Fire Crisis?', Fire, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 97-97.
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The 2019–20 Australian fire season was heralded as emblematic of the catastrophic harm wrought by climate change. Similarly extreme wildfire seasons have occurred across the globe in recent years. Here, we apply a pyrogeographic lens to the recent Australian fires to examine the range of causes, impacts and responses. We find that the extensive area burnt was due to extreme climatic circumstances. However, antecedent hazard reduction burns (prescribed burns with the aim of reducing fuel loads) were effective in reducing fire severity and house loss, but their effectiveness declined under extreme weather conditions. Impacts were disproportionately borne by socially disadvantaged regional communities. Urban populations were also impacted through prolonged smoke exposure. The fires produced large carbon emissions, burnt fire-sensitive ecosystems and exposed large areas to the risk of biodiversity decline by being too frequently burnt in the future. We argue that the rate of change in fire risk delivered by climate change is outstripping the capacity of our ecological and social systems to adapt. A multi-lateral approach is required to mitigate future fire risk, with an emphasis on reducing the vulnerability of people through a reinvigoration of community-level capacity for targeted actions to complement mainstream fire management capacity.
Nolan, RH, Collins, L, Leigh, A, Ooi, MKJ, Curran, TJ, Fairman, TA, Resco de Dios, V & Bradstock, R 2021, 'Limits to post‐fire vegetation recovery under climate change', Plant, Cell & Environment