bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interplay of condensate material properties and chromatin heterogeneity governs nuclear condensate ripening
Authors: Banerjee Deb Sankar , Chigumira Tafadzwa , Lackner Rachel M , Kratz Josiah C , Chenoweth David M , Banerjee Shiladitya , Zhang Huaiying
Published: November 2024

Nuclear condensates play many important roles in chromatin functions, but how cells regulate their nucleation and growth within the complex nuclear environment is not well understood. Here, we report how condensate properties and chromatin mechanics dictate condensate growth dynamics in the nucleus. We induced condensates with distinct properties using different proteins in human cell nuclei and monitored their growth. We revealed two key physical mechanisms that underlie droplet growth: diffusion-driven or ripening-dominated growth. To explain the experimental observations, we developed a quantitative theory that uncovers the mechanical role of chromatin and condensate material properties in regulating condensate growth in a heterogeneous environment. By fitting our theory to experimental data, we find that condensate surface tension is critical in determining whether condensates undergo elastic or Ostwald ripening. Our model also predicts that chromatin heterogeneity can influence condensate nucleation and growth, which we validated by experimentally perturbing the chromatin organization and controlling condensate nucleation. By combining quantitative experimentation with theoretical modeling, our work elucidates how condensate surface tension and chromatin heterogeneity govern nuclear condensate ripening, implying that cells can control both condensate properties and the chromatin organization to regulate condensate growth in the nucleus.
Neural circuit mechanisms for steering control in walking Drosophila
Authors: Rayshubskiy Aleksandr , Holtz Stephen L , Bates Alexander , Vanderbeck Quinn X , Capdevila Laia Serratosa , Wilson Rachel I
Published: November 2024

Orienting behaviors provide a continuous stream of information about an organism’s sensory experiences and plans. Thus, to study the links between sensation and action, it is useful to identify the neurons in the brain that control orienting behaviors. Here we describe descending neurons in the
Drosophila
brain that predict and influence orientation (heading) during walking. We show that these cells have specialized functions: whereas one cell type predicts sustained low-gain steering, the other predicts transient high-gain steering. These latter cells integrate internally-directed steering signals from the head direction system with stimulus-directed steering signals from multimodal sensory pathways. The inputs to these cells are organized to produce “see-saw” steering commands, so that increasing output from one brain hemisphere is accompanied by decreasing output from the other hemisphere. Together, our results show that internal and external drives are integrated to produce descending motor commands with different timescales, for flexible and precise control of an organism’s orientation in space.
DNA methylation insulates genic regions from CTCF loops near nuclear speckles
Authors: Roseman Shelby A , Siegenfeld Allison P , Lee Ceejay , Lue Nicholas Z , Waterbury Amanda L , Liau Brian B
Published: November 2024

The insulator protein CTCF is essential for mediating chromatin loops and regulating gene expression. While it is established that DNA methylation hinders CTCF binding, the impacts of this methylation-sensitive CTCF binding on chromatin architecture and transcription are poorly defined. Here, we used a selective DNMT1 inhibitor to investigate the characteristics and functions of ‘reactivated’ CTCF peaks resulting from global DNA demethylation. We found that reactivated peaks preferentially form chromatin loops on gene bodies and interact with highly-looping partner peaks located in regions of active chromatin. Notably, both reactivated CTCF peaks and their highly-looping partners are enriched near nuclear speckles, condensate bodies implicated in transcription and splicing. Utilizing targeted protein degradation, we specifically depleted CTCF and nuclear speckles to elucidate their functional interplay. By degrading CTCF upon DNMT1 inhibition, we revealed that CTCF is important for DNMT1 inhibitor-dependent interactions between chromatin and speckle proteins. Moreover, we found that CTCF promotes the activation of genes near speckles upon DNMT1 inhibition. Conversely, acute depletion of nuclear speckles revealed that they influence transcription but do not maintain CTCF binding or looping. Collectively, our study suggests a model wherein DNA methylation prevents spurious CTCF occupancy and interactions with regulatory elements near nuclear speckles, yet CTCF looping is robust towards the loss of speckles.
Determining the off-target activity of antibiotics and novel translation initiation sites in mitochondria
Authors: Marks James , Young Emma , Hafner Markus
Published: November 2024

Mitochondria translate the 13 mitochondrially encoded proteins using a dedicated translation system that closely resembles the one found in prokaryotes. Consequently, many bacterial protein synthesis inhibitors, used as antibiotics, exhibit mitochondrial toxicity as off-target effects. However, whether these antibiotics act through the same mechanisms in mitochondria as in bacteria remains unclear. To address this, we characterized the impact of a panel of bacterial translation and elongation inhibitors on mitochondrial translation through mitoribosome profiling. We found that the mechanism of action for every antibiotic, except telithromycin, is the same in both bacteria and mitochondria. Additionally, mitoribosome profiling data showed that
MT-ND1
and
MT-ND5
have incorrectly annotated translation initiation sites and suggested several novel mitochondrial translation events. Careful study of the mechanisms of mitochondrial translation inhibition can guide development of antibiotics with increased target specificity and reduced mitochondrial toxicity.
Female-germline specific protein Sakura interacts with Otu and is crucial for germline stem cell renewal and differentiation and oogenesis
Authors: Azlan Azali , Zhu Li , Fukunaga Ryuya
Published: November 2024

During oogenesis, self-renewal and differentiation of germline stem cells (GSCs) must be tightly regulated. The
Drosophila
female germline serves as an excellent model for studying these regulatory mechanisms. Here, we report that a previously uncharacterized gene
CG14545
, which we named
sakura
, is essential for oogenesis and female fertility in
Drosophila
. Sakura is predominantly expressed in the ovaries, particularly in the germline cells, including GSCs.
sakura
null mutant female flies display rudimentary ovaries with germline-less and tumorous phenotypes, fail to produce eggs, and are completely sterile. The germline-specific depletion of
sakura
impairs Dpp/BMP signaling, leading to aberrant
bag-of-marbles
(
bam
) expression, resulting in faulty differentiation and loss of GSCs. Additionally,
sakura
is necessary for normal piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) levels and for proper localization of Oo18 RNA-binding protein (Orb) in developing oocytes. We identified Ovarian Tumor (Otu) as protein binding partner of Sakura, and we found that loss of
otu
phenocopies loss of
sakura
in ovaries. Thus, we identified Sakura as a crucial factor for GSC renewal and differentiation and oogenesis, and propose that Sakura and Otu function together in these processes.
Mechanisms of PP2A-Ankle2 dependent nuclear reassembly after mitosis
Authors: Li Jingjing , Wang Xinyue , Jordana Laia , Bonneil Éric , Ginestet Victoria , Ahmed Momina , Bourouh Mohammed , Pascariu Cristina Mirela , Schmeing T Martin , Thibault Pierre , Archambault Vincent
Published: November 2024

In animals, mitosis involves the breakdown of the nucleus. The reassembly of a nucleus after mitosis requires the reformation of the nuclear envelope around a single mass of chromosomes. This process requires Ankle2 (also known as LEM4 in humans) which interacts with PP2A and promotes the function of the Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor (BAF). Upon dephosphorylation, BAF dimers cross-bridge chromosomes and bind lamins and transmembrane proteins of the reassembling nuclear envelope. How Ankle2 functions in mitosis is incompletely understood. Using a combination of approaches in Drosophila, along with structural modeling, we provide several lines of evidence that suggest that Ankle2 is a regulatory subunit of PP2A, explaining how it promotes BAF dephosphorylation. In addition, we discovered that Ankle2 interacts with the endoplasmic reticulum protein Vap33, which is required for Ankle2 localization at the reassembling nuclear envelope during telophase. We identified the interaction sites of PP2A and Vap33 on Ankle2. Through genetic rescue experiments, we show that the Ankle2/PP2A interaction is essential for the function of Ankle2 in nuclear reassembly and that the Ankle2/Vap33 interaction also promotes this process. Our study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of post-mitotic nuclear reassembly and suggests that the endoplasmic reticulum is not merely a source of membranes in the process, but also provides localized enzymatic activity.
An emerging view of neural geometry in motor cortex supports high-performance decoding
Authors: Perkins Sean M , Amematsro Elom A , Cunningham John P , Wang Qi , Churchland Mark M
Published: November 2024

Decoders for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) assume constraints on neural activity, chosen to reflect scientific beliefs while yielding tractable computations. Recent scientific advances suggest that the true constraints on neural activity, especially its geometry, may be quite different from those assumed by most decoders. We designed a decoder, MINT, to embrace statistical constraints that are potentially more appropriate. If those constraints are accurate, MINT should outperform standard methods that explicitly make different assumptions. Additionally, MINT should be competitive with expressive machine learning methods that can implicitly learn constraints from data. MINT performed well across tasks, suggesting its assumptions are well-matched to the data. MINT outperformed other interpretable methods in every comparison we made. MINT outperformed expressive machine learning methods in 37 of 42 comparisons. MINT’s computations are simple, scale favorably with increasing neuron counts, and yield interpretable quantities such as data likelihoods. MINT’s performance and simplicity suggest it may be a strong candidate for many BCI applications.
Natural variation in salt-induced changes in root:shoot ratio reveals SR3G as a negative regulator of root suberization and salt resilience in Arabidopsis
Authors: Ishka Maryam Rahmati , Sussman Hayley , Hu Yunfei , Alqahtani Mashael Daghash , Craft Eric , Sicat Ronell , Wang Minmin , Yu Li’ang , Ait-Haddou Rashid , Li Bo , Drakakaki Georgia , Nelson Andrew , Pineros Miguel , Korte Arthur , Jaremko Lukasz , Testerink Christa , Tester Mark , Julkowska Magdalena M
Published: November 2024

Soil salinity is one of the major threats to agricultural productivity worldwide. Salt stress exposure alters root and shoot growth rates, thereby affecting overall plant performance. While past studies have extensively documented the effect of salt stress on root elongation and shoot development separately, here we take an innovative approach by examining the coordination of root and shoot growth under salt stress conditions. Utilizing a newly developed tool for quantifying the root:shoot ratio in agar-grown Arabidopsis seedlings, we found that salt stress results in a loss of coordination between root and shoot growth rates. We identify a specific gene cluster encoding domain-of-unknown-function 247 (DUF247), and characterize one of these genes as
S
alt
R
oot:shoot
R
atio
R
egulator
G
ene (SR3G). Further analysis elucidates the role of SR3G as a negative regulator of salt stress tolerance, revealing its function in regulating shoot growth, root suberization, and sodium accumulation. We further characterize that
SR3G
expression is modulated by
WRKY75
transcription factor, known as a positive regulator of salt stress tolerance. Finally, we show that the salt stress sensitivity of
wrky75
mutant is completely diminished when it is combined with
sr3g
mutation. Together, our results demonstrate that utilizing root:shoot ratio as an architectural feature leads to the discovery of new stress resilience gene. The study’s innovative approach and findings not only contribute to our understanding of plant stress tolerance mechanisms but also open new avenues for genetic and agronomic strategies to enhance crop environmental resilience.
The impact of doctor–patient communication on medication adherence and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension: a systematic review
Authors: Zeng Jianwei , Gao Yuqiang , Hou Chen , Liu Tao
Published: November 2024

Background

This systematic review aims to present existing evidence concerning the effects of doctor–patient communication on medication adherence and blood pressure control in hypertensive patients.

Methods

Two researchers independently conducted comprehensive searches of five databases and screened relevant studies published from the inception of these databases up to July 21, 2024. The titles, abstracts, and full texts of all the retrieved articles subsequently underwent rigorous duplicate screening, according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. We then synthesized the findings in a narrative format of the included studies. Finally, two researchers independently assessed study quality.

Results

Eighteen observational studies encompassing 21,542 patients and seven randomized controlled trials with 2,804 patients were included in the systematic review. Diverse approaches were employed for evaluating doctor–patient communication and medication adherence in these studies, with identified themes including communication content and communication skills. Various facets of doctor–patient communication, including patient satisfaction with doctor–patient communication, the specific content discussed, the style of communication, the comprehensive communication skills of doctors, and the duration of these conversations, were scrutinized. In general, the results suggest a promising link between effective doctor–patient communication and increased medication adherence and blood pressure control. Nonetheless, the presence of nuanced variations and subtle distinctions within the literature underscores the imperative for deeper exploration and consideration in clinical practice. Additionally, effective communication interventions must attain a certain threshold of intensity and endure for an adequate duration.

Conclusion

This review underscores the pivotal role of robust doctor–patient communication in improving both medication adherence and blood pressure control. Nevertheless, additional research may be warranted to address the disparities and subtleties in the literature and to establish precise implications for clinical practice. Moreover, in clinical practice, strategies to enhance doctor–patient communication should be incorporated, given the potential to improve medication adherence and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients.

Trial registration

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO with registration number CRD42024503112.
Artificial Intelligence in the Perspective of Indonesian Law: Subject or Object of Law?
Authors: Jubaidi Didi , Khoirunnisa Khoirunnisa
Published: November 2024

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has presented new challenges in the field of law, particularly regarding its status as a legal subject or object in Indonesia. What is the legal position of artificial intelligence (AI) in Indonesia and what legal implications arise regarding its regulation as an object or subject of law in the Indonesian legal system? The purpose of this study is to explore and determine the legal position of AI in Indonesia, as well as analyze the legal implications that may arise from this status. This research uses a qualitative approach with normative legal research methods and comparative analysis. Data was obtained through a literature review that included national laws and regulations, international legal documents, and related academic literature. The results show that in the Indonesian legal system, AI is currently considered more as a legal object, without a personification status that allows recognition as a legal subject. This leads to various consequences, including liability issues in cases of harm caused by AI actions. This study also found that there are gaps in AI- specific regulations, creating room for debate on whether or not legal policy changes are needed to support AI as partial legal subjects or entities with limited liability. In conclusion, AI in Indonesian law is still positioned as a legal object with inadequate regulations to address the complexity of AI use in various sectors. There is a need to develop adaptive legal policies and a clearer regulatory framework to address the ethical challenges and legal responsibilities in this digital era. This research recommends legal reforms that consider a multidisciplinary approach and the precautionary principle to maximize the potential of AI without compromising legal protection for society.
CONSPIRACIONISMO CLIMÁTICO NO TELEGRAM NAS ELEIÇÕES BRASILEIRAS DE 2022
Authors: Melo Bianca Maria da Silva , Medeiros Priscila Muniz de
Published: November 2024

O artigo pretende investigar narrativas socioambientais em grupos e canais de extrema-direita no Telegram durante as eleições de 2022. Utilizando modelagem de tópicos, o conteúdo dos textos foi dividido em 16 tópicos. Através de uma análise qualitativa, foi possível verificar a forte presença de conteúdo conspiratório. Também identificamos uma convergência entre as mensagens analisadas e o discurso do então presidente Jair Bolsonaro, além de conexões com discursos globais da extrema-direita.
Özel Yetenekli Öğrencilerin Proje Üretme Süreçlerine Yönelik Hazırlanan Proje Eğitiminin Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: Ayvacı Hakan Şevki , Durmuş Ayşe
Published: November 2024

Bu çalışmada özel yetenekli öğrencilere yönelik bir proje eğitimi programı hazırlanmış ve etkililiği değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışma nicel yaklaşıma ait basit deneysel desen kullanılarak, 2021-2022 eğitim-öğretim yılı güz döneminde Trabzon’da bulunan bir BİLSEM’de araştırmacı tarafından açılan atölyelere gönüllü olarak katılan, daha önce proje eğitimi almamış/proje raporu yazmamış 9 Bireysel Yetenekleri Fark Ettirici (BYF) grubu öğrencisi ile yürütülmüştür. Çalışmanın veri toplama araçları araştırmacı tarafından geliştirilmiş olan, öğrenci rehber materyalleri ve proje izleme ve değerlendirme formudur. Çalışmada veri toplama araçları olarak kullanılan etkinlik formlarından ve proje izleme ve değerlendirme formundan elde edilen öğrenci cevapları her bir proje basamağa ait kriterleri sağlama düzeyi değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmadan elde edilen sonuçlara göre özel yetenekli öğrencilerin hazırlanan proje eğitiminden sonra projenin planlama aşamasında bilimsel kaynakları etkili bir şekilde tarayarak proje konularına yönelik literatürü ve literatür özetini raporlaştırmakta sorun yaşamadıkları, uygulama aşamasında projelerinin yöntem bölümünü raporlaştırmakta zorlandıkları, değerlendirme aşamasında ise ortaya koydukları ürünleri veya elde ettikleri verileri tartışıp ulaştıkları sonuçları raporlaştırmakta yetersiz kaldıkları tespit edilmiştir. Hazırlanacak eğitim sürecinden daha verimli sonuçlar alınabilmesi için etkinlik sayısı veya uygulama süresinin artırılması önerilmektedir.
Sınıf Öğretmenlerinin Dört İşlem ile İlgili Matematiksel Bilgileri ve Öğretimsel Açıklamaları
Authors: Karabağ Fırat , Güneş Gönül
Published: November 2024

Sınıf öğretmenlerinin doğal sayılarla temel dört işleme ilişkin öğretme bilgilerinin seviyelerini belirlemeyi ve buna yönelik yaptıkları öğretimsel açıklamaları incelemeyi amaçlayan bu araştırma karma araştırma yöntemlerinden sıralı açıklayıcı desene göre yürütülmüştür. Sınıf öğretmenlerinin matematik öğretim bilgileri; konu alan bilgisi, öğrenci ve içerik bilgisi, öğretim ve içerik bilgisi ve müfredat bilgisi bileşenleri kapsamında incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın nicel kısmında sınıf öğretmenlerine doğal sayılarla dört işlem alanına ilişkin test uygulanmış, nitel kısmında ise belirlenen öğretmenlerle klinik mülakatlar yapılmıştır. Araştırma, mesleki deneyimleri 1 ila 30 yıl arası olan 70 sınıf öğretmeni ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma verileri katılımcıların demografik bilgilerini içeren bilgi formu, doğal sayılarla dört işlem öğretimine ilişkin alan bilgisi testi ve klinik mülakatlar ile toplanmıştır. Testten elde edilen veriler araştırmacılar tarafından geliştirilen değerlendirme rubriği ile analiz edilmiştir. Klinik mülakat verileri ise betimsel içerik analizine tabi tutulmuştur. Araştırma sonucunda sınıf öğretmenleri en düşük performansı öğretim ve içerik bilgisi bileşeninde, en başarılı performansı ise müfredat bilgisi bileşeninde göstermişlerdir. Tespit edilen sonuçlar neticesinde sınıf öğretmenlerinin pedagojik alan ve konu alan bilgilerine ilişkin eksiklikleri belirlenmiş, bu eksikliklerin giderilmesi için üniversitelerle iş birliği yapılarak öğretmenlere, teorik ve alan öğretimi bilgilerini meslek içinde güncelleştirip geliştirebilecekleri öğrenme ortamlarının sağlanması gerektiği önerilmiştir.
Feminisation Of Poverty And Women’s Health
Authors: Nonglait Ms. Laiarihunlang L. , Rymbai Ms. Jessica
Published: November 2024

The phenomenon of poverty is historical in nature and the plight of the poor appears to be as old as human
history. Poverty is the lack of resources and capabilities to fulfill the basic needs of life. Feminisation of poverty
was coined by Diana Pearce in 1978 which posits that women compared to men have a higher incidence of
poverty. Feminisation of poverty is due to relative poverty rather than absolute poverty. This paper seeks to
examine feminisation of poverty in relation to women’s health. While the health of both men and women is
adversely affected by poverty, a higher proportion of women suffer from its effects because of increasing ‘feminisation of poverty’. This study has utilised secondary sources of data. From the ‘feminisation of poverty’ lens, the paper highlights the status of women’s health in the state of Meghalaya.
Changing Status Of Women In India!
Authors: Vijaya Sri
Published: November 2024

Women in India now enjoy a far higher standing than they did in antiquity and the Middle Ages. Women now
have more freedom, rights, and opportunities to participate in public life. They still experience dominance,
humiliation, harassment, discrimination, and even exclusion, though. Women were viewed as equals to men and
as the center of the home in ancient India. Their rights were restricted in the areas of politics, religion, the
economy, and society. They were free to choose their partners, receive an education, and run their homes as they pleased. They did not serve or receive pay, although they did have restricted rights to inherit property
Information Literacy In India
Authors: Bhakte Dr. Abhay
Published: November 2024

Information literacy in India is increasingly recognized as a critical skill for academic, professional, and
personal development, especially in an era of rapid technological advancement and information overload. As
the country moves toward a more digitally connected society, the ability to access, evaluate, and use
information effectively has become essential for individuals to participate fully in education, governance, and
the workforce. While information literacy initiatives in India have gained momentum in recent years, challenges
remain, including disparities in access to technology, limited awareness about the importance of information
literacy, and varying levels of digital literacy across different socio-economic groups. Educational institutions,
libraries, and government organizations are working to address these gaps by integrating information literacy
into curricula, providing training programs, and promoting digital literacy initiatives. However, more
comprehensive strategies are needed to ensure that information literacy is widely accessible and effectively
applied in diverse contexts, from rural areas to urban centres. By fostering information literacy, India can empower its citizens to make informed decisions, critically engage with information, and contribute to a knowledge-driven society
" Comparative Evaluation Of Probiotics And Triple Antibiotic Paste As Intracanal Medicaments Against Enterococcus Faecalis: An In Vitro Study "
Authors: Daokar Dr. Sadashiv , Padwal Dr. Dhanshri , Patil Dr. Kalpana , Mali Dr. Apurva , Ranjalkar Dr. Aishwarya , Khan Dr Sana
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the potential of probiotics as a novel intracanal medicament against Enterococcus
faecalis, a common endodontic pathogen, and compares their antibacterial efficacy with a traditional triple
antibiotic paste. The study aims to evaluate the viability of probiotics as a potential alternative for root canal
treatment. This research seeks to contribute to the development of safer and more effective endodontic therapies.
Materials and Methods: In this invitro study, the following materials were used: 1. Enterococcus faecalis of
ATCC 29212; 2. Probiotics I (VIBACT) 3. Probiotic II (VSL 3) 4. Triple antibiotic paste. Forty-five extracted
human permanent mandibular single-rooted pre-molar teeth were collected and stored in distilled water. The
specimens were decoronated 1 to 2 mm below the cemento-enamel junction using a safe-sided diamond disk to
standardize the root length at 12 mm. The samples were divided into 3 groups of 15 roots each.
Sample preparation: Human teeth were extracted, decoronated, and standardized. They were then randomly
divided into three experimental groups.
Root Canal Treatment: Canals were instrumented using a standardized technique, irrigated with sodium
hypochlorite, and treated with EDTA to remove the smear layer. Following this, each canal was inoculated with
a standardized concentration of Enterococcus faecalis and sealed.
Medication Application: After a specified incubation period, the canals were rinsed, and the corresponding test
medicaments were applied using a standardized technique. The canals were then resealed.
Sample Harvesting: Dentin chips were harvested from the root canals using rotary files. These chips were placed
in Brain Heart Yeast (BHY) broth and incubated under controlled conditions.
Optical Density Measurement: The optical density (OD600) of each sample was measured using a
spectrophotometer to quantify the concentration of Enterococcus faecalis.
Results: The results indicate that the medication had a significant effect in Groups I and II but not in Group III.
The ANOVA shows significant differences in all three groups after medication, and the Tukey post hoc test
confirms that the differences between the groups after medication are statistically significant.
Conclusion: This study investigated the antibacterial potential of two commercially available probiotics
(VIBACT and VSL 3) and triple antibiotic paste against Enterococcus faecalis. The results demonstrated that both probiotics and the triple antibiotic paste exhibited efficacy in reducing E. faecalis growth. While VSL 3 displayed a larger zone of inhibition compared to VIBACT.
Exploring The Paradoxes Of Data Governance: Challenges And Opportunities In US Smes
Authors: Oghenekevwe Egbedion
Published: November 2024

.
Improving DIC Accuracy in Experimental Setups
Authors: Reis Martin , Adorna Marcel , Jiroušek Ondřej , Jung Anne
Published: April 2019

Digital image correlation (DIC) is a common software tool to measure displacement and strain fields on the surface of a specimen during mechanical testing. Due to its low requirements on the experimental setup and the simple usability it is widely spread in the community of applied mechanics. Nevertheless, the real noise of the method often stays uninvestigated. Therefore, this work shows different approaches to measure errors in DIC. The present contribution proves lighting as the main error source and it shows that a series of static images allows to estimate the error level of the DIC before performing the experiment. To give a proof of concept of the improved DIC setup, three‐point bending tests on single struts of aluminum foam are performed and evaluated.
Variations of Infiltration and Electronic Contact in Mesoscopic Perovskite Solar Cells Revealed by High‐Resolution Multi‐Mapping Techniques
Authors: Lakhiani Harry , Dunlop Tom , De Rossi Francesca , Dimitrov Stoichko , Kerremans Robin , Charbonneau Cécile , Watson Trystan , Barbé Jérémy , Tsoi Wing Chung
Published: April 2019

A combination of high‐resolution mapping techniques is developed to probe the homogeneity and defects of mesoscopic perovskite solar cells. Three types of cells using a one‐step infiltration process with methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) or 5‐ammoniumvaleric acid‐MAPbI3 solutions, or two‐step process with MAPbI3 solution are investigated. The correlation between photoluminescence, photocurrent, electroluminescence, and Raman maps gives a detailed understanding of the different infiltration mechanisms, electronic contact at interfaces, and effect on local photocurrent for the cells. The one‐step MAPbI3 cell has very limited infiltration of the perovskite solution which results in poor device performance. High loading of the mesopores of the TiO2 and ZrO2 scaffold is observed when using 5‐ammoniumvaleric acid, but some micrometer‐sized non‐infiltrated areas remain due to dense carbon flakes hindering perovskite infiltration. The two‐step cell has a complex morphology with features having either beneficial or detrimental effects on the local photocurrent. The results not only provide key insights to achieving better infiltration and homogeneity of the perovskite film in mesoporous devices but can also aid further work on planar devices to develop efficient extraction layers. Moreover, this multi‐mapping approach allows the correlation of the local photophysical properties of full perovskite devices, which would be challenging to obtain by other techniques.
Improved Epitaxy of AlN Film for Deep‐Ultraviolet Light‐Emitting Diodes Enabled by Graphene
Authors: Chen Zhaolong , Liu Zhiqiang , Wei Tongbo , Yang Shenyuan , Dou Zhipeng , Wang Yunyu , Ci Haina , Chang Hongliang , Qi Yue , Yan Jianchang , Wang Junxi , Zhang Yanfeng , Gao Peng , Li Jinmin , Liu Zhongfan
Published: April 2019

The growth of single‐crystal III‐nitride films with a low stress and dislocation density is crucial for the semiconductor industry. In particular, AlN‐derived deep‐ultraviolet light‐emitting diodes (DUV‐LEDs) have important applications in microelectronic technologies and environmental sciences but are still limited by large lattice and thermal mismatches between the epilayer and substrate. Here, the quasi‐van der Waals epitaxial (QvdWE) growth of high‐quality AlN films on graphene/sapphire substrates is reported and their application in high‐performance DUV‐LEDs is demonstrated. Guided by density functional theory calculations, it is found that pyrrolic nitrogen in graphene introduced by a plasma treatment greatly facilitates the AlN nucleation and enables fast growth of a mirror‐smooth single‐crystal film in a very short time of ≈0.5 h (≈50% decrease compared with the conventional process), thus leading to a largely reduced cost. Additionally, graphene effectively releases the biaxial stress (0.11 GPa) and reduces the dislocation density in the epilayer. The as‐fabricated DUV‐LED shows a low turn‐on voltage, good reliability, and high output power. This study may provide a revolutionary technology for the epitaxial growth of AlN films and provide opportunities for scalable applications of graphene films.
Cation Substitution Induced Adjustment on Lattice Structure and Photoluminescence Properties of Mg14Ge5O24:Mn4+: Optimized Emission for w‐LED and Thermometry Applications
Authors: Liang Sisi , Li Guogang , Dang Peipei , Wei Yi , Lian Hongzhou , Lin Jun
Published: April 2019

Currently, Mn4+‐activated red‐emitting materials are the research hotspot due to their promising application in phosphor‐converted white light‐emitting diodes (w‐LEDs). Here, a typical cation substitution strategy is reported to optimize Mn4+‐doped germinate phosphor for improving luminescence performances. The effect of cation substitution for Ge4+ ions by Ti4+, Sn4+, and Si4+ ions on lattice structure, photoluminescence properties, and thermal stability of the as‐prepared Mn4+‐doped germinates is systematically investigated. A significant improvement of emission intensity with Ti4+ doping should benefit from the resonance emission enhancement effect. Some lattice distortion defects contribute to the thermal stability enhancement, which plays a role in driving the excited phonon traps to compensate the energy loss of nonradiative transition. Surprisingly, abnormal variation in intensity of anti‐Stokes and Stokes emission peaks with changing temperature is first observed, revealing a potential application in thermometry. The electroluminescence performances of as‐fabricated w‐LED devices using Mg14Ge5Ti0.5O24:Mn4+ red phosphor are evaluated, which possess higher color rendering index (Ra = 87.3) and luminous efficiency (109.42 lm W−1) as well as lower color correlated temperature (3566 K) than those using Cs2GeF6:Mn4+ and CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ red phosphors. The results reflect the superiority of the studied phosphor in w‐LEDs and optical thermometry areas.
Microlens Arrays above Interlaced Plasmonic Pixels for Optical Security Devices with High‐Resolution Multicolor Motion Effects
Authors: Jiang Hao , Kaminska Bozena , Porras Hector , Raymond Mark , Kapus Tyler
Published: April 2019

Optical security devices based on high‐density microlens arrays on top of printed microimages or interlaced patterns can display high‐resolution image frames with attractive motion effects. However, the effects are so far restricted to a single color due to challenges in printing multiple colors with sufficiently high resolution and precision. This article introduces a viable solution based on microlens arrays above plasmonic colors to enable high‐resolution multicolor image frames with multidirectional motion effects. Plasmonic color pixels comprised of metalized nanowell arrays are implemented to print 2D interlaced patterns with super‐high resolution and nanoscale precision. Using a 2D microlens array of 25 µm lens pitch, 50 color image frames are obtained from a plasmonic color pattern printed with resolution of 10 160 dots per inch. The image frames show multiple colors, which significantly boost the color performance of microlens‐based security devices. The display resolution of image frames reaches 1016 pixels per inch, which is at least six times higher than conventional lenticular images. The color image frames also show excellent motion effects when moving the view point along any arbitrary direction. The presented devices can be advantageous for commercial applications in security, authentication, and product branding.
Structure and Transport Properties of Water and Hydrated Ions in Nano‐Confined Channels
Authors: Zhu Huajian , Wang Yuying , Fan Yiqun , Xu Junbo , Yang Chao
Published: April 2019

Nano‐confined flow is ubiquitous in modern engineering and biomedical applications. As the peculiar phenomena of nano‐confined flow were continuously reported and traditional theories failed to describe them accurately, simulation efforts have been made to gain deeper insight. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the recent progress on nano‐confined flow, including water flow and hydrated ions transport. This report starts with the water behavior under nano‐confinement, summarizing the water structures, flow properties and their dependence on wall wettability, channel size, etc. The report also presents the efforts made to modify the existing theories to describe nano‐confined flows. Then, the report goes to the hydrated ions. The dehydration process of hydrated ions and ions sieving are discussed in detail, and the effects of membrane surface charge, grafting functional groups, and external field on ions transport are reviewed. In this Progress Report, the transport properties of water and hydrated ions in nano‐confined channels are highlighted, which is critical to the design and application of nanofluidic devices, such as nanofiltration membranes, biosensors, and other related fields.
Cadmium Free Cu2ZnSnS4 Solar Cells with 9.7% Efficiency
Authors: Larsen Jes K. , Larsson Fredrik , Törndahl Tobias , Saini Nishant , Riekehr Lars , Ren Yi , Biswal Adyasha , Hauschild Dirk , Weinhardt Lothar , Heske Clemens , Platzer‐Björkman Charlotte
Published: April 2019

Cu2ZnSnS4(CZTS) thin‐film solar cell absorbers with different bandgaps can be produced by parameter variation during thermal treatments. Here, the effects of varied annealing time in a sulfur atmosphere and an ordering treatment of the absorber are compared. Chemical changes in the surface due to ordering are examined, and a downshift of the valence band edge is observed. With the goal to obtain different band alignments, these CZTS absorbers are combined with Zn1−xSnxOy (ZTO) or CdS buffer layers to produce complete devices. A high open circuit voltage of 809 mV is obtained for an ordered CZTS absorber with CdS buffer layer, while a 9.7% device is obtained utilizing a Cd free ZTO buffer layer. The best performing devices are produced with a very rapid 1 min sulfurization, resulting in very small grains.
Characterization of porous media by chemical tracers using time‐of‐flight and residence time distribution concept
Authors: Balikram Archana , Sinha Supriya , Kumar N.P. Deva , Ojha Keka
Published: April 2019

Chemical tracer proves itself an efficient and economic means for in‐depth and accurate reservoir characterization, where other known technology fails. In the present study, a new combination of conservative and partitioning tracer, that is, (VI) and 1‐Hexanol, was evaluated for their applicability in field. Laboratory investigation was carried out to characterize a porous medium in terms of heterogeneity, porosity, permeability, and residual oil saturation in addition to swept pore volume determination under enhanced recovery mechanism, with the help of volume balance as well as theoretical models. The tracers were first evaluated for their adsorption characteristics on sandstone at simulated temperature conditions, with more than 98% recovery. The investigation is based upon the tracer concentration measurement at the exit point as a function of time, and the response was used to infer reservoir parameters like swept pore volume, sweep efficiency, average residual oil saturation, and the Lorentz coefficient using method of moment, residence time distribution, and time‐of‐flight (TOF) concept. In the flow condition, interstitial velocity of conservative tracer was measured and used to calculate the TOF. Tortuosity and heterogeneity of the sand pack were determined from various theoretical correlations. The analytically evaluated heterogeneity values were found to match with the experimental data.
Second order sliding mode control with MARS speed estimation of linear induction motors considering unknown longitudinal end effects
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhang Hui , Liu Yongwen , Liu Dongqing
Published: April 2019

This paper presents a novel sensorless second order sliding mode control (SOSMC) scheme for linear induction motor (LIM), considering the longitudinal end effects. An adaptive super twisting controller (ASTC) is developed to eliminate the influence of the unknown bounded longitudinal end effects in mechanical loop scheme. Two super twisting controllers (STCs) are applied in electric loop schemes to overcome the high nonlinearity and reduce chattering. Moreover, a Model Adaptive Reference System (MARS) is designed to estimate LIM speed and the secondary flux. Finally, the proposed MARS based SOSMC scheme is validated with the Hardware‐in‐the‐loop (HIL) experiment test system.
HPV‐vaccination and cancer cervical screening in 53 WHO European Countries: An update on prevention programs according to income level
Authors: Altobelli Emma , Rapacchietta Leonardo , Profeta Valerio F. , Fagnano Roberto
Published: April 2019

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world. The aim of our study is to describe the differences in HPV‐vaccination coverage and screening programs in WHO European Countries notably according to income levels. Multiple correspondence analysis was applied to examine the association among the following variables: Gross National Income (GNI) levels (Lower‐Middle Income, LMI; Upper‐Middle Income, UMI; and High Income, HI); type of CC screening program (coverage; opportunistic/organized); vaccination payment policies (free or partial or total charge); mortality rates/100 000 (≤3; >3‐6; >6‐9; >9); incidence rates/100 000 (≤7; >7‐15; >15‐21; >21). Data HPV‐vaccination start (years) (2006‐2008; 2009‐2011; 2012‐2014; >2014; no program); coverage HPV‐vaccination percentage (≤25; 26‐50; 51‐75; >75); data screening start (years) (<1960; 1960‐1980; 1981‐2000; >2000); primary screening test (HPV, cytology), and screening coverage percentage (≤25; >25‐50; >50‐75; >75). A high income is associated with: start of screening before 1960, medium‐high screening coverage, organized screening, start of vaccination in the periods 2009‐2011 and 2012‐2014 and high immunization coverage. On the other hand, lower‐middle income is associated with: late start of vaccination and screening programs with cytology as primary test, high mortality and incidence rates and lower‐medium vaccination coverage. Our results show a useful scenario for crucial support to public health decision‐makers. Public health authorities should monitor the HPV‐vaccinated population in order to determine more precisely the effects on short‐ and long‐term incidence and mortality rates. In fact, the greater the vaccination coverage, the greater will be the efficacy of the program for the prevention of CC and other HPV‐related diseases.
Intraoperative quantification of meningioma cell proliferation potential using rapid flow cytometry reveals intratumoral heterogeneity
Authors: Oya Soichi , Yoshida Shinsuke , Tsuchiya Tsukasa , Fujisawa Naoaki , Mukasa Akitake , Nakatomi Hirofumi , Saito Nobuhito , Matsui Toru
Published: April 2019

Background

Standard sampling methods to evaluate the proliferative ability of meningioma have not been established.

Methods

This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of intraoperative rapid flow cytometry (iFC) using raw samples for the quantitative assessment of proliferative ability in meningioma cells and to investigate intratumoral heterogeneity. Proliferation index (PI) was defined as the ratio of aneuploid cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes to the total cells.

Results

From 50 patients, 118 specimens were analyzed. There was a statistically significant correlation between the postoperative MIB‐1 labeling index (LI) and PI (R = 0.59, P < 0.0001). A higher PI was correlated with a higher annual growth rate (AGR, cm3/y) (R = 0.50, P = 0.0002, 26 patients). AGR showed a correlation with the intratumoral distribution of PI. PI was the highest at the center or the peripheral section of the tumor in tumors with high AGR, whereas it was highest at the dural attachment in tumors with low AGR (P = 0.039, n = 20). Pial feeders were more frequently observed when PI was high in the center or in the peripheral section (P = 0.006, n = 37).

Conclusions

Rapid iFC may thus become a substitute for MIB‐1 LI. Intratumoral heterogeneity of cellular proliferative potential exists in meningiomas and is related to tumor biological characteristics such as AGR and development of pial feeders. This observation underscores the importance of standardization in the sampling method to accurately estimate the risk of meningioma recurrence.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Self‐Alkylation of Polyfluoroarene via Heck and Decarboxylation Process
Authors: Wei Wan‐Xu , Chen Si , Xia Yu , Li Ming , Li Xue‐Song , Han Ya‐Ping , Wang Cui‐Tian , Liang Yong‐Min
Published: April 2019

An efficient palladium‐catalyzed cyclization and polyfluorophenylation of γ,δ‐unsaturated polyfluorobenzoyl oxime ester via iminopalladation/polyfluorobenzoyloxy decarboxylation cascade reaction is developed. The protocol provides a practical and atom‐economical access to a broad scope of various polyfluorophenylated dihydropyrrole derivatives. The reaction effectively utilizes the polyfluorobenzoyloxy leaving group as polyfluorophenylated source for the first time, precluding the need of additional polyfluoroarene. This is the first example of the introduction of electron‐deficient arenes in the further transformation of Narasaka‐Heck‐type reaction. Additionally, the reaction is conducted in a short time.
Preparation and Performance of Porous Polyetherimide/Al2O3 Separator for Enhanced Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Zhu Fangfang , Liu Jiuqing , Zhao Haijun , Li Jie , Li Qihou , Xi Yang , Liu Meng , Wang Cheng
Published: April 2019

As an important component of lithium‐sulfur batteries, the separator has a critical role in battery safety and the corresponding electrochemical performance. In this study, a high‐performance polyetherimide (PEI)/Al2O3 separator was prepared through the non‐solvent‐induced phase separation (NIPS) technique. It was demonstrated that the existence of Al2O3 affects the morphology, thermal stability, electrolyte uptake, ionic conductivity, and electrochemical properties of the PEI/Al2O3 separator. The results indicate that PEI/Al2O3 separators containing 5 and 6 wt % Al2O3 possess high porosity, good electrolyte uptake, excellent thermal stability (thermal shrinkage ratio is only 0.78 % even at a high temperature of 200 °C), and ionic conductivity of practical significance (up to 2.20 mS ⋅ cm−1). Consequently, the assembled cell with the prepared PEI/Al2O3 separator exhibits a better cycling performance (724.9 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.2 C) than that with the commercial Celgard 2320 separator. Therefore, the PEI/Al2O3 separator prepared by NIPS is a potential separator candidate for high‐safety and high‐performance dischargeable lithium‐sulfur batteries.
Total Synthesis of Aspidosperma and Strychnos Alkaloids through Indole Dearomatization
Authors: Saya Jordy M. , Ruijter Eelco , Orru Romano V. A.
Published: April 2019

Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids are the major class of tryptamine‐derived alkaloids found in nature. Together with their structural complexity, this has attracted great interest from synthetic organic chemists. In this Review, the syntheses of Aspidosperma and Strychnos alkaloids through dearomatization of indoles are discussed.
A Framework Proposal to Follow‐Up on Preclinical Convulsive Signals of a New Molecular Entity in First‐in‐Human Studies Using Electroencephalographic Monitoring
Authors: Abt Markus , Dinklo Theo , Rothfuss Andreas , Husar Elisabeth , Dannecker Robert , Kallivroussis Katja , Peck Richard , Doessegger Lucette , Wandel Christoph
Published: April 2019

Traditionally, in dose‐escalating first‐in‐human (FiH) studies, a dose cap with a 10‐fold safety margin to the no observed effect level in animals is implemented if convulsive events are observed in animals. However, the convulsive risk seen in animals does not generally translate to humans. Several lines of evidence are summarized indicating that in a dose‐escalating setting, electroencephalographic epileptiform abnormalities occur at lower doses than clinical convulsive events. Therefore, we propose to consider the occurrence of epileptiform abnormalities in toxicology studies as premonitory signals for convulsions in dose‐escalating FiH studies. Compared with the traditional dose‐cap approach, this may allow the exploration of higher doses in FiH and, subsequently, phase II studies without compromising human safety. Similarly, the presence or absence of electroencephalographic epileptiform abnormalities may also aid the assessment of proconvulsive risk in situations of increased perpetrator burden as potentially present in pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic drug–drug interactions.