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We investigate the convergence of coupled-cluster (CC) correlation energies and related quantities with respect to the employed basis set size for the uniform electron gas (UEG) to gain a better understanding of the basis set incompleteness error (BSIE). To this end, coupled-cluster doubles (CCD) theory is applied to the three-dimensional UEG for a range of densities, basis set sizes, and electron numbers. We present a detailed analysis of individual diagrammatically decomposed contributions to the amplitudes at the level of CCD theory. In particular, we show that only two terms from the amplitude equations contribute to the asymptotic large-momentum behavior of the transition structure factor, corresponding to the cusp region at short interelectronic distances. However, due to the coupling present in the amplitude equations, all decomposed correlation energy contributions show the same asymptotic convergence behavior to the complete basis set limit. These findings provide an additional rationale for the success of a recently proposed correction to the BSIE of CC theory. Lastly, we examine the BSIE in the CCD plus perturbative triples [CCD(T)] method, as well as in the newly proposed CCD plus complete perturbative triples [CCD(cT)] method.

IntroductionEnvironmental pollutants injure the mucociliary elevator, thereby provoking disease progression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Epithelial resilience mechanisms to environmental nanoparticles in health and disease are poorly characterised.MethodsWe delineated the impact of prevalent pollutants such as carbon and zinc oxide nanoparticles, on cellular function and progeny in primary human bronchial epithelial cells (pHBECs) from end-stage COPD (COPD-IV, n=4), early disease (COPD-II, n=3) and pulmonary healthy individuals (n=4). After nanoparticle exposure of pHBECs at air–liquid interface, cell cultures were characterised by functional assays, transcriptome and protein analysis, complemented by single-cell analysis in serial samples of pHBEC cultures focusing on basal cell differentiation.ResultsCOPD-IV was characterised by a prosecretory phenotype (twofold increase in MUC5AC+) at the expense of the multiciliated epithelium (threefold reduction in Ac-Tub+), resulting in an increased resilience towards particle-induced cell damage (fivefold reduction in transepithelial electrical resistance), as exemplified by environmentally abundant doses of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Exposure of COPD-II cultures to cigarette smoke extract provoked the COPD-IV characteristic, prosecretory phenotype. Time-resolved single-cell transcriptomics revealed an underlying COPD-IV unique basal cell state characterised by a twofold increase in KRT5+(P=0.018) and LAMB3+(P=0.050) expression, as well as a significant activation of Wnt-specific (P=0.014) and Notch-specific (P=0.021) genes, especially in precursors of suprabasal and secretory cells.ConclusionWe identified COPD stage-specific gene alterations in basal cells that affect the cellular composition of the bronchial elevator and may control disease-specific epithelial resilience mechanisms in response to environmental nanoparticles. The identified phenomena likely inform treatment and prevention strategies.

The construction experience of M.A.N. company was reflected in the M.A.N. steel house in the sophisticated panel construction and the simplicity of the joints. The designers met the requirement of creating a modern functional home with the exceptionally high-quality façade modules, efficient insulation, double-glazing of the windows and integration of the most modern building services for maximum living comfort. With the standardisation of construction elements, M.A.N. chimed with the spirit of the times, and the extremely short construction time of just a few weeks was also advantageous. While the contemporary clients appreciated performance and equipment, the traditional shape imitating cubature and façade design failed. Responding to the clients’ wishes by developing variations distinguished the M.A.N. steel house as the most flexible prefabricated house. At the same time, it was precisely the individualisation that brought the manufacturing company disproportionately high production costs and prevented profitable series production.

Flooding is a pervasive natural hazard—costly in both human and economic terms—and climate change will probably exacerbate risks around the world. Mountainous areas, such as the densely populated European Alps, are of particular concern as topography and atmospheric conditions can result in large and sudden floods. In addition, the Alps are experiencing a high warming rate, which is probably leading to more heavy rainfall events. Here, we compile palaeoflood records to test the still uncertain impact these climatic trends might have on flood frequency and magnitude in the European Alps. We demonstrate that a warming of 0.5–1.2 °C, whether naturally or anthropogenically forced, led to a 25–50% decrease in the frequency of large (≥10 yr return period) floods. This decreasing trend is not conclusive in records covering less than 200 years but persistent in those ranging from 200 to 9,000 years. By contrast, extreme (>100 yr) floods may increase with a similar degree of warming in certain small alpine catchments impacted by local intensification of extreme rainfall. Our results show how long, continuous palaeoflood records can be used to disentangle complex climate–flooding relationships and assist in improving risk assessment and management at a regional scale.

It is generally accepted that epiblast cells ingress into the primitive streak by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to give rise to the mesoderm; however, it is less clear how the endoderm acquires an epithelial fate. Here, we used embryonic stem cell and mouse embryo knock‐in reporter systems to combine time-resolved lineage labelling with high-resolution single-cell transcriptomics. This allowed us to resolve the morphogenetic programs that segregate the mesoderm from the endoderm germ layer. Strikingly, while the mesoderm is formed by classical EMT, the endoderm is formed independent of the key EMT transcription factor Snail1 by mechanisms of epithelial cell plasticity. Importantly, forkhead box transcription factor A2 (Foxa2) acts as an epithelial gatekeeper and EMT suppressor to shield the endoderm from undergoing a mesenchymal transition. Altogether, these results not only establish the morphogenetic details of germ layer formation, but also have broader implications for stem cell differentiation and cancer metastasis.

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-021-00667-0.

Resistance to insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in pancreatic ß-cells causes overt diabetes in mice; thus, therapies that sensitize ß-cells to insulin may protect patients with diabetes against ß-cell failure1–3. Here we identify an inhibitor of insulin receptor (INSR) and IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) signalling in mouse ß-cells, which we name the insulin inhibitory receptor (inceptor; encoded by the gene Iir). Inceptor contains an extracellular cysteine-rich domain with similarities to INSR and IGF1R4, and a mannose 6-phosphate receptor domain that is also found in the IGF2 receptor (IGF2R)5. Knockout mice that lack inceptor (Iir-/-) exhibit signs of hyperinsulinaemia and hypoglycaemia, and die within a few hours of birth. Molecular and cellular analyses of embryonic and postnatal pancreases from Iir-/-mice showed an increase in the activation of INSR–IGF1R in Iir-/-pancreatic tissue, resulting in an increase in the proliferation and mass of ß-cells. Similarly, inducible ß-cell-specific Iir-/-knockout in adult mice and in ex vivo islets led to an increase in the activation of INSR–IGF1R and increased proliferation of ß-cells, resulting in improved glucose tolerance in vivo. Mechanistically, inceptor interacts with INSR–IGF1R to facilitate clathrin-mediated endocytosis for receptor desensitization. Blocking this physical interaction using monoclonal antibodies against the extracellular domain of inceptor resulted in the retention of inceptor and INSR at the plasma membrane to sustain the activation of INSR–IGF1R in ß-cells. Together, our findings show that inceptor shields insulin-producing ß-cells from constitutive pathway activation, and identify inceptor as a potential molecular target for INSR–IGF1R sensitization and diabetes therapy.

A detailed understanding of intestinal stem cell (ISC) self-renewal and differentiation is required to treat chronic intestinal diseases. However, the different models of ISC lineage hierarchy1–6and segregation7–12are subject to debate. Here, we have discovered non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP)-activated ISCs that are primed towards the enteroendocrine or Paneth cell lineage. Strikingly, integration of time-resolved lineage labelling with single-cell gene expression analysis revealed that both lineages are directly recruited from ISCs via unipotent transition states, challenging the existence of formerly predicted bi- or multipotent secretory progenitors7–12. Transitory cells that mature into Paneth cells are quiescent and express both stem cell and secretory lineage genes, indicating that these cells are the previously described Lgr5+label-retaining cells7. Finally, Wnt/PCP-activated Lgr5+ISCs are molecularly indistinguishable from Wnt/β-catenin-activated Lgr5+ISCs, suggesting that lineage priming and cell-cycle exit is triggered at the post-transcriptional level by polarity cues and a switch from canonical to non-canonical Wnt/PCP signalling. Taken together, we redefine the mechanisms underlying ISC lineage hierarchy and identify the Wnt/PCP pathway as a new niche signal preceding lateral inhibition in ISC lineage priming and segregation.

Lymphotoxin ß-receptor (LTßR) signalling promotes lymphoid neogenesis and the development of tertiary lymphoid structures1,2, which are associated with severe chronic inflammatory diseases that span several organ systems3–6. How LTßR signalling drives chronic tissue damage particularly in the lung, the mechanism(s) that regulate this process, and whether LTßR blockade might be of therapeutic value have remained unclear. Here we demonstrate increased expression of LTßR ligands in adaptive and innate immune cells, enhanced non-canonical NF-?B signalling, and enriched LTßR target gene expression in lung epithelial cells from patients with smoking-associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and from mice chronically exposed to cigarette smoke. Therapeutic inhibition of LTßR signalling in young and aged mice disrupted smoking-related inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue, induced regeneration of lung tissue, and reverted airway fibrosis and systemic muscle wasting. Mechanistically, blockade of LTßR signalling dampened epithelial non-canonical activation of NF-?B, reduced TGFß signalling in airways, and induced regeneration by preventing epithelial cell death and activating WNT/ß-catenin signalling in alveolar epithelial progenitor cells. These findings suggest that inhibition of LTßR signalling represents a viable therapeutic option that combines prevention of tertiary lymphoid structures1and inhibition of apoptosis with tissue-regenerative strategies.

trans-[Pt(bodipy)(N3)(PEt3)2] (bodipy = 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacen-8-yl; Et = ethyl) reacts with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) or F3C–C≡C–COOEt in a catalyst-free room-temperature iClick reaction to provide the complexes [Pt(bodipy)(triazolateR,R′)(PEt3)2] with R = R′ = COOCH3or R = CF3, R′ = COOEt. The main product is the N2-coordinated triazolate, but some minor signals point to an additional N1 species as well as some trans→ cisisomerization of the Pt(PEt3)2moiety. Kinetic studies with 1H, 19F, and 31P NMR spectroscopy gave second-order rate constants k2in the range of (2.5–6.0) × 10–3M–1s–1, with the CF3-substituted alkyne reacting faster than DMAD. Upon photoexcitation, the parent azido complex as well as the two triazolate products exhibit considerable efficiency in the triplet-state population. Notably, the efficiency of intersystem crossing was modulated by the iClick reaction, which was also studied by density functional theory calculations.

Eine selbstbestimmte Pflege, wie sie bei uns Standard sein sollte, bedeutet, dass freiheitsentziehende Maßnahmen nur als letztes Mittel zur Anwendung kommen. Jede Anwendung stellt eine hohe Eingriffsintensität dar - die Freiheit und die Menschenwürde des Betroffenen werden tangiert. Strafrechtlich liegt eine Freiheitsberaubung vor. Diese hat nur dann keine Folgen, wenn die Anwendung der freiheitsentziehenden Maßnahme gerechtfertigt war. Unabhängig davon können sich zivilrechtliche Folgen wie Schmerzensgeldes ergeben, wenn Betroffene unzulässigerweise in ihrer Freiheit eingeschränkt werden. Bei der Frage, ob ein Rechtfertigungsgrund vorliegt, bestehen häufig große Unsicherheiten.

In this work, we present a robust implementation of the periodic Fock exchange for atom-centered Gaussian-type orbitals (GTOs). We discuss the divergence, appearing in the formulation of the periodic Fock exchange in the case of a finite number of k-points, and compare two schemes that remove it. These are the minimum image convention (MIC) and the truncated Coulomb interaction (TCI) that we use here in combination with k-meshes. We observe artifacts in four-center integrals of GTOs, when evaluated in the TCI scheme. They carry over to the exchange and density matrices of Hartree–Fock calculations for TCI but are absent in MIC. At semiconducting and insulating systems, we show that both MIC and TCI yield the same energies for a sufficiently large supercell or k-mesh, but the self-consistent field algorithm is more stable for MIC. We therefore conclude that the MIC is superior to TCI and validate our implementation by comparing not only to other GTO-based calculations but also by demonstrating excellent agreement with results of plane-wave codes for sufficiently large Gaussian basis sets.

Background/Objectives:Dieting is a popular yet often ineffective way to lower body weight, as the majority of people regain most of their pre-dieting weights in a relatively short time. The underlying molecular mechanisms driving weight regain and the increased risk for metabolic disease are still incompletely understood. Here we investigate the molecular alterations inherited from a history of obesity.Methods:In our model, male high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese C57BL/6J mice were switched to a low caloric chow diet, resulting in a decline of body weight to that of lean mice. We measured body composition, as well as metrics of glucose, insulin and lipid homeostasis. This was accompanied by histological and gene expression analysis of adipose tissue and liver to assess adipose tissue inflammation and hepatosteatosis. Moreover, acute hypothalamic response to (re-) exposure to HFD was assessed by qPCR.Results & Conclusions:Within 7 weeks after diet switch, most obesity-associated phenotypes, such as body mass, glucose intolerance and blood metabolite levels were reversed. However, hepatic inflammation, hepatic steatosis as well as hypertrophy and inflammation of perigonadal, but not subcutaneous, adipocytes persisted in formerly obese mice. Transcriptional profiling of liver and perigonadal fat revealed an upregulation of pathways associated with immune function and cellularity. Thus, we show that weight reduction leaves signs of inflammation in liver and perigonadal fat, indicating that persisting proinflammatory signals in liver and adipose tissue could contribute to an increased risk of formerly obese subjects to develop the metabolic syndrome upon recurring weight gain.

ObjectiveThe initial steps of pancreatic regeneration versus carcinogenesis are insufficiently understood. Although a combination of oncogenic Kras and inflammation has been shown to induce malignancy, molecular networks of early carcinogenesis remain poorly defined.DesignWe compared early events during inflammation, regeneration and carcinogenesis on histological and transcriptional levels with a high temporal resolution using a well-established mouse model of pancreatitis and of inflammation-accelerated KrasG12D-driven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Quantitative expression data were analysed and extensively modelled in silico.ResultsWe defined three distinctive phases—termed inflammation, regeneration and refinement—following induction of moderate acute pancreatitis in wild-type mice. These corresponded to different waves of proliferation of mesenchymal, progenitor-like and acinar cells. Pancreas regeneration required a coordinated transition of proliferation between progenitor-like and acinar cells. In mice harbouring an oncogenic Kras mutation and challenged with pancreatitis, there was an extended inflammatory phase and a parallel, continuous proliferation of mesenchymal, progenitor-like and acinar cells. Analysis of high-resolution transcriptional data from wild-type animals revealed that organ regeneration relied on a complex interaction of a gene network that normally governs acinar cell homeostasis, exocrine specification and intercellular signalling. In mice with oncogenic Kras, a specific carcinogenic signature was found, which was preserved in full-blown mouse pancreas cancer.ConclusionsThese data define a transcriptional signature of early pancreatic carcinogenesis and a molecular network driving formation of preneoplastic lesions, which allows for more targeted biomarker development in order to detect cancer earlier in patients with pancreatitis.

Melanoma cells share many biological properties with neural crest stem cells. Here we show that the homeodomain transcription factor MSX1, which is significantly correlated with melanoma disease progression, reprograms melanocytes and melanoma cells toward a neural crest precursor-like state. MSX1-reprogrammed normal human melanocytes express the neural crest marker p75 and become multipotent. MSX1 induces a phenotypic switch in melanoma, which is characterized by an oncogenic transition from an E-cadherin–high nonmigratory state toward a ZEB1-high invasive state. ZEB1 up-regulation is responsible for the MSX1-induced migratory phenotype in melanoma cells. Depletion of MSX1 significantly inhibits melanoma metastasis in vivo. These results show that neural crest-like reprogramming achieved by a single factor is a critical process for melanoma progression.

We report on the platinum complexes trans-Pt(BODIPY)(8-ethynyl-BODIPY)(PEt3)2(EtBPtB) and trans-Pt(BODIPY)(4-ethynyl-1,8-naphthalimide)(PR3)2(R = Et, EtNIPtB-1; R = Ph, EtNIPtB-2), which all contain two different dye ligands that are connected to the platinum atom by a direct σ bond. The molecular structures of all complexes were established by X-ray crystallography and show that the different dye ligands are in either a coplanar or an orthogonal arrangement. π-stacking and several CH···F and short CH···π interactions involving protons at the phosphine substituents lead to interesting packing motifs in the crystal. The complexes feature several strong absorptions (ε = 3.2 × 105–5.5 × 105M–1cm–1) that cover the regime from 350 to 480 nm (EtNIPtB-1and EtNIPtB-2) or from 350 to 580 nm (EtBPtB). Besides the typical absorption bands of both kinds of attached dyes, they also feature an intense band near 400–420 nm, which is assigned by time-dependent density functional theory calculations to a higher-energy transition within the ethynyl-BODIPY (EtB) ligand or to charge transfer between the BODIPY (B) and naphthalimide (NI) chromophores. All complexes show dual fluorescence and phosphorescence emission from either the B (EtNIPtB-1and EtNIPtB-2) or EtB (EtBPtB) ligand with a maximum phosphorescence quantum yield of 41% for EtNIPtB-1. The latter seems to be the highest reported value for room temperature phosphorescence from a BODIPY dye. The complete quenching of the emission from the chromophore absorbing at the higher energy and the appearance of the corresponding absorption bands in the fluorescence and phosphorescence excitation spectra indicate complete and rapid energy transfer to the chromophore with the lower-energy excited state, i.e., EtNI → B in EtNIPtB-1and EtNIPtB-2and B → EtB in EtBPtB. The latter process was further investigated by transient absorption spectroscopy, indicating that energy transfer is complete within 0.6 ns. EtNIPtB-1catalyzes the photooxidation of 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene with photogenerated 1O2to Juglone at a much faster rate than methylene blue but with only modest quantum yields of 37% and with the onset of photodegradation after 60 min.

BackgroundAnimal models have suggested that CCR2-dependent signalling contributes to the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, but global blockade of CCL2 failed to improve the clinical course of patients with lung fibrosis. However, as levels of CCR2+CD4+T cells in paediatric lung fibrosis had previously been found to be increased, correlating with clinical symptoms, we hypothesised that distinct CCR2+cell populations might either increase or decrease disease pathogenesis depending on their subtype.ObjectiveTo investigate the role of CCR2+CD4+T cells in experimental lung fibrosis and in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other fibrosis.MethodsPulmonary CCR2+CD4+T cells were analysed using flow cytometry and mRNA profiling, followed by in silico pathway analysis, in vitro assays and adoptive transfer experiments.ResultsFrequencies of CCR2+CD4+T cells were increased in experimental fibrosis—specifically the CD62L-CD44+effector memory T cell phenotype, displaying a distinct chemokine receptor profile. mRNA profiling of isolated CCR2+CD4+T cells from fibrotic lungs suggested immune regulatory functions, a finding that was confirmed in vitro using suppressor assays. Importantly, adoptive transfer of CCR2+CD4+T cells attenuated fibrosis development. The results were partly corroborated in patients with lung fibrosis, by showing higher percentages of Foxp3+CD25+cells within bronchoalveolar lavage fluid CCR2+CD4+T cells as compared with CCR2-CD4+T cells.ConclusionPulmonary CCR2+CD4+T cells are immunosuppressive, and could attenuate lung inflammation and fibrosis. Therapeutic strategies completely abrogating CCR2-dependent signalling will therefore also eliminate cell populations with protective roles in fibrotic lung disease. This emphasises the need for a detailed understanding of the functions of immune cell subsets in fibrotic lung disease.

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated necrotic cell death controlled by glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). At present, mechanisms that could predict sensitivity and/or resistance and that may be exploited to modulate ferroptosis are needed. We applied two independent approaches—a genome-wide CRISPR-based genetic screen and microarray analysis of ferroptosis-resistant cell lines—to uncover acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) as an essential component for ferroptosis execution. Specifically, Gpx4–Acsl4 double-knockout cells showed marked resistance to ferroptosis. Mechanistically, ACSL4 enriched cellular membranes with long polyunsaturated ω6 fatty acids. Moreover, ACSL4 was preferentially expressed in a panel of basal-like breast cancer cell lines and predicted their sensitivity to ferroptosis. Pharmacological targeting of ACSL4 with thiazolidinediones, a class of antidiabetic compound, ameliorated tissue demise in a mouse model of ferroptosis, suggesting that ACSL4 inhibition is a viable therapeutic approach to preventing ferroptosis-related diseases.

Nanoparticles (NPs) released from engineered materials or combustion processes as well as persistent herpesvirus infection are omnipresent and are associated with chronic lung diseases. Previously, we showed that pulmonary exposure of a single dose of soot-like carbonaceous NPs (CNPs) or fiber-shaped double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) induced an increase of lytic virus protein expression in mouse lungs latently infected with murine γ-herpesvirus 68 (MHV-68), with a similar pattern to acute infection suggesting virus reactivation. Here we investigate the effects of a more relevant repeated NP exposure on lung disease development as well as herpesvirus reactivation mechanistically and suggest an avenue for therapeutic prevention. In the MHV-68 mouse model, progressive lung inflammation and emphysema-like injury were detected 1 week after repetitive CNP and DWCNT exposure. NPs reactivated the latent herpesvirus mainly in CD11b+ macrophages in the lungs. In vitro, in persistently MHV-68 infected bone marrow-derived macrophages, ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK were rapidly activated after CNP and DWCNT exposure, followed by viral gene expression and increased viral titer but without generating a pro-inflammatory signature. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 activation abrogated CNP- but not DWCNT-triggered virus reactivation in vitro, and inhibitor pretreatment of latently infected mice attenuated CNP-exposure-induced pulmonary MHV-68 reactivation. Our findings suggest a crucial contribution of particle-exposure-triggered herpesvirus reactivation for nanomaterial exposure or air pollution related lung emphysema development, and pharmacological p38 inhibition might serve as a protective target to alleviate air pollution related chronic lung disease exacerbations. Because of the required precondition of latent infection described here, the use of single hit models might have severe limitations when assessing the respiratory toxicity of nanoparticle exposure.

Hypokalemia may accelerate kidney function decline. Both hypo- and hyperkalemia can cause sudden cardiac death. However, little is known about the relationship between serum potassium and death or the occurrence of kidney failure requiring replacement therapy (KRT). We investigated this relationship in older people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4-5.

Insulin-dependent diabetes is a complex multifactorial disorder characterized by loss or dysfunction of β-cells. Pancreatic β-cells differ in size, glucose responsiveness, insulin secretion and precursor cell potential; understanding the mechanisms that underlie this functional heterogeneity might make it possible to develop new regenerative approaches. Here we show that Fltp (also known as Flattop and Cfap126), a Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) effector and reporter gene, acts as a marker gene that subdivides endocrine cells into two subpopulations and distinguishes proliferation-competent from mature β-cells with distinct molecular, physiological and ultrastructural features. Genetic lineage tracing revealed that endocrine subpopulations from Fltp-negative and -positive lineages react differently to physiological and pathological changes. The expression of Fltp increases when endocrine cells cluster together to form polarized and mature 3D islet mini-organs. We show that 3D architecture and Wnt/PCP ligands are sufficient to trigger β-cell maturation. By contrast, the Wnt/PCP effector Fltp is not necessary for β-cell development, proliferation or maturation. We conclude that 3D architecture and Wnt/PCP signalling underlie functional β-cell heterogeneity and induce β-cell maturation. The identification of Fltp as a marker for endocrine subpopulations sheds light on the molecular underpinnings of islet cell heterogeneity and plasticity and might enable targeting of endocrine subpopulations for the regeneration of functional β-cell mass in diabetic patients.

The proteasome is a central regulatory hub for intracellular signaling by degrading numerous signaling mediators. Immunoproteasomes are specialized types of proteasomes involved in shaping adaptive immune responses, but their role in innate immune signaling is still elusive. Here, we analyzed immunoproteasome function for polarization of alveolar macrophages, highly specialized tissue macrophages of the alveolar lung surface. Classical activation (M1 polarization) of primary alveolar macrophages by LPS/IFNγ transcriptionally induced all three immunoproteasome subunits, low molecular mass protein 2 (LMP2), LMP7 and multicatalytic endopeptidase complex-like 1, which was accompanied by increased immunoproteasome activity in M1 cells. Deficiency of LMP7 had no effect on the LPS/IFNγ-triggered M1 profile indicating that immunoproteasome function is dispensable for classical alveolar macrophage activation. In contrast, IL-4 triggered alternative (M2) activation of primary alveolar macrophages was accompanied by a transcriptionally independent amplified expression of LMP2 and LMP7 and an increase in immunoproteasome activity. Alveolar macrophages from LMP7 knockout mice disclosed a distorted M2 profile upon IL-4 stimulation as characterized by increased M2 marker gene expression and CCL17 cytokine release. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed enrichment of IL-4-responsive genes and of genes involved in cellular response to defense, wounding and inflammation in LMP7-deficient alveolar macrophages indicating a distinct M2 inflammation resolving phenotype. Moreover, augmented M2 polarization was accompanied by amplified AKT/STAT6 activation and increased RNA and protein expression of the M2 master transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 4 in LMP7−/−alveolar macrophages. IL-13 stimulation of LMP7-deficient macrophages induced a similar M2-skewed profile indicative for augmented signaling via the IL-4 receptor α (IL4Rα). IL4Rα expression was generally elevated only on protein but not RNA level in LMP7−/−alveolar macrophages. Importantly, specific catalytic inhibition with an LMP7-specific proteasome inhibitor confirmed augmented IL-4-mediated M2 polarization of alveolar macrophages. Our results thus suggest a novel role of immunoproteasome function for regulating alternative activation of macrophages by limiting IL4Rα expression and signaling.

Despite the widespread interest in direct neuronal reprogramming, the mechanisms underpinning fate conversion remain largely unknown. Our study revealed a critical time point after which cells either successfully convert into neurons or succumb to cell death. Co-transduction with Bcl-2 greatly improved negotiation of this critical point by faster neuronal differentiation. Surprisingly, mutants with reduced or no affinity for Bax demonstrated that Bcl-2 exerts this effect by an apoptosis-independent mechanism. Consistent with a caspase-independent role, ferroptosis inhibitors potently increased neuronal reprogramming by inhibiting lipid peroxidation occurring during fate conversion. Genome-wide expression analysis confirmed that treatments promoting neuronal reprogramming elicit an anti-oxidative stress response. Importantly, co-expression of Bcl-2 and anti-oxidative treatments leads to an unprecedented improvement in glial-to-neuron conversion after traumatic brain injury in vivo, underscoring the relevance of these pathways in cellular reprograming irrespective of cell type in vitro and in vivo.

Multi-Material Design has been identified to be an important enabler for lightweight structures, especially with regards to the goals for the large-scale implementation of e-mobility concepts. A novel 3D-Hybrid technology has been developed to combine the advantages of metal and fibre-reinforced thermoplastics in one structural part. This leads to significant weight reduction in combination with an increase in functionality. Additionally, the amount of single parts can be reduced; these factors combined make the technology competitive with conventional steel-sheet design. Investigations on basic profiles showed the feasibility of the technology in single stage production processes and proved the superior performance of the structure compared to conventional design. Finally, a B-pillar demonstration structure was produced in a highly automated process and investigated in side-impact related component tests.

Direct lineage reprogramming induces dramatic shifts in cellular identity, employing poorly understood mechanisms. Recently, we demonstrated that expression of Neurog2 or Ascl1 in postnatal mouse astrocytes generates glutamatergic or GABAergic neurons. Here, we take advantage of this model to study dynamics of neuronal cell fate acquisition at the transcriptional level. We found that Neurog2 and Ascl1 rapidly elicited distinct neurogenic programs with only a small subset of shared target genes. Within this subset, only NeuroD4 could by itself induce neuronal reprogramming in both mouse and human astrocytes, while co-expression with Insm1 was required for glutamatergic maturation. Cultured astrocytes gradually became refractory to reprogramming, in part by the repressor REST preventing Neurog2 from binding to the NeuroD4 promoter. Notably, in astrocytes refractory to Neurog2 activation, the underlying neurogenic program remained amenable to reprogramming by exogenous NeuroD4. Our findings support a model of temporal hierarchy for cell fate change during neuronal reprogramming.

Understanding of the electric transport through surface-anchored metal–organic frameworks (SURMOFs) is important both from a fundamental perspective as well as with regards to possible future applications in electronic devices. To address this mostly unexplored subject, we integrated a series of representative SURMOF thin films, formed by copper nodes and trimesic acid and known as HKUST-1, in a mercury-drop-based tunneling junction. Although the transport properties of these SURMOFs are analogous to those of hybrid metal–organic molecular wires, manifested by a very low value of the tunneling decay constant (β ≈ 0.006 Å–1), they are at the same time found to be consistent with a linear increase of resistance with film thickness. Upon loading of SURMOF pores with ferrocene (Fc), a noticeable increase in transport current was observed. A transport model and ab initio electronic structure calculations were used to reveal a hopping transport mechanism and to relate the changes upon Fc loading to those of the electronic and vibrational structures of the SURMOF films.

Master regulators of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition such as Twist1 and Snail1 have been implicated in invasiveness and the generation of cancer stem cells, but their persistent activity inhibits stem-cell-like properties and the outgrowth of disseminated cancer cells into macroscopic metastases. Here, we show that Twist1 activation primes a subset of mammary epithelial cells for stem-cell-like properties, which only emerge and stably persist following Twist1 deactivation. Consequently, when cells undergo a mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), they do not return to their original epithelial cell state, evidenced by acquisition of invasive growth behavior and a distinct gene expression profile. These data provide an explanation for how transient Twist1 activation may promote all steps of the metastatic cascade; i.e., invasion, dissemination, and metastatic outgrowth at distant sites.

Evaluation of disease severity in experimental models of rheumatoid arthritis is inevitably associated with assessment of structural bone damage. A noninvasive imaging technology allowing objective quantification of pathophysiological alterations of bone structure in rodents could substantially extend the methods used to date in preclinical arthritis research for staging of autoimmune disease severity or efficacy of therapeutical intervention. Sodium 18F-fluoride (18F-NaF) is a bone-seeking tracer well-suited for molecular imaging. Therefore, we systematically examined the use of 18F-NaF positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in mice with glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (G6PI)–induced arthritis for quantification of pathological bone metabolism. F-fluoride was injected into mice before disease onset and at various time points of progressing experimental arthritis. Radioisotope accumulation in joints in the fore- and hindpaws was analyzed by PET measurements. For validation of bone metabolism quantified by 18F-fluoride PET, bone surface parameters of high-resolution μCT measurements were used. Before clinical arthritis onset, no distinct accumulation of 18F-fluoride was detectable in the fore- and hindlimbs of mice immunized with G6PI. In the course of experimental autoimmune disease, 18F-fluoride bone uptake was increased at sites of enhanced bone metabolism caused by pathophysiological processes of autoimmune disease. Moreover, 18F-fluoride signaling at different stages of G6PI-induced arthritis was significantly correlated with the degree of bone destruction. CT enabled identification of exact localization of 18F-fluoride signaling in bone and soft tissue. The results of this study suggest that small-animal PET/CT using 18F-fluoride as a tracer is a feasible method for quantitative assessment of pathophysiological bone metabolism in experimental arthritis. Furthermore, the possibility to perform repeated noninvasive measurements in vivoallows longitudinal study of therapeutical intervention monitoring.

Numerous transcriptional regulators of neurogenesis have been identified in the developing and adult brain, but how neurogenic fate is programmed at the epigenetic level remains poorly defined. Here, we report that the transcription factor Pax6 directly interacts with the Brg1-containing BAF complex in adult neural progenitors. Deletion of either Brg1 or Pax6 in the subependymal zone (SEZ) causes the progeny of adult neural stem cells to convert to the ependymal lineage within the SEZ while migrating neuroblasts convert to different glial lineages en route to or in the olfactory bulb (OB). Genome-wide analyses reveal that the majority of genes downregulated in the Brg1 null SEZ and OB contain Pax6 binding sites and are also downregulated in Pax6 null SEZ and OB. Downstream of the Pax6-BAF complex, we find that Sox11, Nfib, and Pou3f4 form a transcriptional cross-regulatory network that drives neurogenesis and can convert postnatal glia into neurons. Taken together, elements of our work identify a tripartite effector network activated by Pax6-BAF that programs neuronal fate.

AbstractEnterprise 2.0 is a broad term. It comprises not only the diverse applications of social software in organisations, but also the cultural and organisational change along with them. A generally accepted classification scheme that covers the diverse aspects of specific social software solutions had not yet been established. Such a classification scheme would be helpful to clarify young terms like Enterprise 2.0 or social software and to establish a common understanding. In this paper we present a classification scheme and how it was developed. Through a literature analysis of publications from academia and practice and of keywords used in online case study sites, 37 classification categories were derived. Based on a survey, 13 classification categories were chosen to be implemented in a web-based case study platform, and their value ranges were determined. Round about 100 case studies in the Enterprise 2.0 Case Study Network e20cases.org have been tagged accordingly and can be easily used for search and retrieval. In this article we describe selected categories in more detail: objectives, fields of application and success factors as well as barriers in the implementation process of Enterprise 2.0 in organizations, as they are not self-explanatory.

Abstract: Two new species of the genus Tannea Blackwelder from Ecuador, Tannea hermani n. sp. and Tannea bellavistae n. sp. are herein described, and a complete list of records of all Tannea species found in Ecuador is provided together with a key to the species. Additionally, the geographic distribution of the Tannea species of Ecuador and their altitudinal distribution are discussed.

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the possibility of forensic determination of DVD-R(W) disks regarding the serial number of the used DVD burner. As it was already shown that the burner identication (serial number and type of burner) works for CD ROMs, it was largely unknown that this burner identication works for DVD-R(W) as well when special drives and special software is used. A detailed analysis is given in this paper. Furthermore, a case study for a forensics training program for investigators is developed.