A Role for Noncoding Variation in Schizophrenia

A large portion of common variant loci associated with genetic risk for schizophrenia reside within noncoding sequence of unknown function. Here, we demonstrate promoter and enhancer enrichment in schizophrenia variants associated with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL). The enrichment is greater when functional annotations derived from the human brain are used relative to peripheral tissues. Regulatory trait concordance analysis ranked genes within schizophrenia genome-wide significant loci for a potential functional role, based on colocalization of a risk SNP, eQTL, and regulatory element sequence. We identified potential physical interactions of noncontiguous proximal and distal regulatory elements. This was verified in prefrontal cortex and -induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons for the L-type calcium channel (CACNA1C) risk locus. Our findings point to a functional link between schizophrenia-associated noncoding SNPs and 3D genome architecture associated with chromosomal loopings and transcriptional regulation in the brain

Outcomes of the EMDataResource cryo-EM Ligand Modeling Challenge

The EMDataResource Ligand Model Challenge aimed to assess the reliability and reproducibility of modeling ligands bound to protein and protein–nucleic acid complexes in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) maps determined at near-atomic (1.9–2.5 Å) resolution. Three published maps were selected as targets: Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase with inhibitor, SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase with covalently bound nucleotide analog and SARS-CoV-2 virus ion channel ORF3a with bound lipid. Sixty-one models were submitted from 17 independent research groups, each with supporting workflow details. The quality of submitted ligand models and surrounding atoms were analyzed by visual inspection and quantification of local map quality, model-to-map fit, geometry, energetics and contact scores. A composite rather than a single score was needed to assess macromolecule+ligand model quality. These observations lead us to recommend best practices for assessing cryo-EM structures of liganded macromolecules reported at near-atomic resolution.</p

Global wealth disparities drive adherence to COVID-safe pathways in head and neck cancer surgery

Peer reviewe

Fabrication of Nickel/Zirconium Anode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells by Electrochemical Method

In this work, preparation of discontinuous nickel films on zirconium by electrochemical deposition of Ni-Cu alloy followed by selective anodic etching of the more noble metal, copper, was performed in an aqueous solution at room temperature. Potential varying electrodeposition produces were applied to obtain Ni-Cu alloys on Zr substrate. It is found that the Ni content increases as the deposition potential becomes more negative. Cyclic voltam-metric data indicate that the anodic dissolution of nickel is retarded by passivation. By taking the advantage of nickel passivation, selective anodic etching of Cu is achieved. Multicyclic electrochemical alloying/dealloying process makes the film rich of nickel and complete dealloying of copper.</jats:p

Plasticity of Nanoporous Ni/YSZ Anode: A Numerical Analysis

Thin electrolytes (YSZ) and anode-supported (nanoporous Ni-YSZ ) cells operating in the temperature range of 650–850°C are considered as promising solid oxide fuel cell systems. Understanding the thermal-mechanical deformation behavior of the Ni/YSZ interface is critical for the design and durability assessment of the YSZ high temperature fuel cells. One of the problems still remains to be solved is the microstructure instability of the nanoporous Ni at the elevated temperatures. In this work, modeling the thermal-mechanical deformation in the nanoporous Ni/YSZ interface region was performed. Nanoporous Ni thin film bounded to YSZ was considered to establish a simplified 2-D model. On the Ni/YSZ interface, the nanopores are modeled as spherical or cylindrical pores. Crystal lattice rotation due to dislocation motion was simulated and the numerical solutions to the in-plane lattice rotation for the nanoporous Ni was used to predict the microstructure evolution in the interface area of the Ni/YSZ anode.</jats:p