bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La inoperancia tras la ventana de “Los detectives salvajes”. Una lectura de vitalismo, improductividad y resistencia
Authors: De Tomás Martín Jara
Published: January 2020

El contenido político de la obra de Roberto Bolaño que escapa de su sistematización canónica en relación a la dictadura chilena se abre en la tesis de esta reseña hacia un lugar más amplio que se articula desde el vitalismo y la improductividad tanto política como estética en la obra de Los detectives salvajes. Esta articulación se da doblemente gracias al análisis de lo inoperoso de Giorgio Agamben y la potencialidad que se abre en el cortocircuito de las formas acostumbradas. Se daría, por lo tanto, la improductividad a modo de contenido, en la configuración de los personajes y el desarrollo de la acción. Y, a su vez –y de ahí, la potencia del gesto– se daría una inoperancia estética también en las formas estructurales de la novela. Este doble gesto revela una poética y política vital muy cohesionada que tiene claras consecuencias estéticas.

The political content in Roberto Bolaño’s work, which eludes canonization within the context of the chilenan dictatorship, opens up in this review’s thesis towards a wider space cast from vitalist and improdutive positions –both aesthetic and political— within Los Detectives Salvajes. This articulation is doubly possible due to Giorgio Agamben’s analysis of the inoperant and the potential which the shortcircuiting of acquainted forms opens. There would therefore be improductivity when it comes to contents, in the configuration of characters as well as in the development of the plot. At the same time, and herein lies the potential in the gesture, there would also be an aesthetic inoperancy in the structural form of the novel. This double gesture reveals Bolaño’s poetics as well as his vital politics which is cohesive and brings to clear aesthetic consequences.
History of Atmospheric Cosmic Ray Research at the National Bureau of
Standards
Authors: Coursey Bert M.
Published: January 2020

In the late 1930s, a team of physicists from the National Bureau of Standards (now
the National Institute of Standards and Technology) published eight papers on the
investigation of cosmic rays in the atmosphere. Payloads launched with weather balloons,
also known as radiosondes, were equipped with sensors to measure temperature, relative
humidity, pressure, and radiation dose. A battery-operated telemetry system was used to
continuously transmit at 60 MHz to a base station. They measured the radiation dose
profiles of cosmic radiation in the atmosphere up to 21 km. Calibration of the
Geiger-Müller counters with a standard radium source allowed them to calculate a
radiation dose rate at an altitude corresponding to 10 kPa that was 180 times the dose
rate near sea level in Washington, DC. Ascents in Washington, DC (latitude 39 degrees)
and Lima, Peru (near equator) allowed them to demonstrate the effects of Earth’s
magnetic field on incident galactic cosmic rays; the dose rate in Peru was only half
that in Washington, DC.
Quatuor Bozzini : de l’audace underground et upperground
Authors: Majeau-Bettez Emanuelle
Published: January 2020

Cet article est écrit en deux temps. Retournant au moment de l’émergence du Quatuor Bozzini au début des années 2000, il retrace certaines des propositions esthétiques de l’ensemble, et analyse la manière dont elles ont participé à une certaine redéfinition du mandat d’un ensemble de musique contemporaine, ainsi qu’à une nouvelle compréhension de la collaboration. L’article se tourne ensuite vers les témoignages de six collaborateur.ice.s du Quatuor, soit Éliane Radigue, Phill Niblock, Marc Boivin, Nicole Lizée, Simon Martin et James O’Callaghan. Ces six artistes soulignent, presque d’un commun effort, dirait-on, le sérieux et l’immense sensibilité avec lesquels le Quatuor Bozzini traverse les différentes sphères créatrices proposées par leurs collaborateurs, ou encore initiées de leur propre chef.
Le quatuor de saxophones Quasar : un rayonnement continu de création musicale depuis 25 ans !
Authors: LeBlanc Jimmie
Published: January 2020

Formé des mêmes musiciens depuis 1994, le quatuor de saxophones Quasar développe depuis vingt-cinq ans une démarche artistique axée sur la création et l’innovation. C’est par la collaboration étroite avec les compositeurs à diverses étapes du processus créatif que le quatuor participe activement à l’enrichissement du répertoire pour leur formation. Avec des structures d’accueil telles que la Série Électro, Quasar se situe non seulement à la fine pointe des nouvelles pratiques musicales, mais favorise également le rayonnement de la musique québécoise et canadienne à l’échelle locale et internationale. Après une brève mise en contexte du milieu musical montréalais qui a vu naître l’ensemble dans les années 1990, cet article retrace les principaux jalons dans son parcours qui ont conduit à l’affirmation de sa singularité artistique.
Reality Sounding: Annesley Black’s not thinking about the
elephants
Authors: Tan Anthony
Published: January 2020

This paper presents an analysis of Annesley Black’s not thinking
about the elephants (2018), for saxophone quartet and live electronics. Written
for Montreal’s Quasar Saxophone Quartet, this work explores concepts of suppression
and emergence through traditional musical dimensions such as melody, counterpoint,
and form, but also through contemporary musical dimensions such as
psychoacoustics (difference tones), theatrical elements, and live electronics.
Black’s practice engages critically with the compositional process itself by
formulating dialectic relationships between material and compositional
strategies (both intuitive and systematic). This work encourages the listener to
engage in a multidimensional listening experience where conceptual extremes become a
catalyst for the building of narrative and tension.
Les interactions entre élèves médiatisées par des indices comme facteur déclencheur de progrès collectifs et individuels en situation d’apprentissage coopératif face à une tâche complexe de mathématiques
Authors: Fagnant Annick , Demonty Isabelle , Lemaire Émilie , Scheen Matthieu
Published: January 2020

Cette étude exploratoire s’appuie sur une analyse qualitative des interactions entre élèves confrontés à la résolution d’une tâche complexe de mathématiques lors d’un travail de groupe structuré selon les principes de l’apprentissage coopératif. Plus précisément, elle cherche à voir l’impact des régulations interactives entre élèves, médiatisées par des indices visant à soutenir les processus de représentation et de vérification, sur les performances collectives (la résolution de la tâche complexe durant le travail de groupe) et individuelles (la résolution d’une tâche de réinvestissement, à réaliser seul après le travail de groupe). L’enjeu de l’article est non seulement de donner à voir la potentielle richesse des interactions entre élèves, mais aussi de pointer les difficultés liées au travail de groupe, et ceci même quand celui-ci a été conçu en s’appuyant sur une approche méthodologique (l’apprentissage coopératif) dont l’efficacité a été largement démontrée.
La dyade contribue-t-elle à l’adoption de conduites d’autorégulation en résolution de problèmes mathématiques chez les élèves du milieu du secondaire?
Authors: Hanin Vanessa , Van Nieuwenhoven Catherine
Published: January 2020

La présente étude s’appuie sur les champs de recherche centrés sur l’apprentissage coopératif et les régulations interactives afin d’identifier les modalités les plus déterminantes dans l’efficacité du travail de groupe. L’étude a été menée au sein d’une classe de troisième secondaire (14 filles) de l’enseignement général d’un établissement scolaire situé au coeur de Bruxelles. Deux dyades d’élèves ont été choisies pour leur type d’interaction contrastée et ont été analysées afin de caractériser le type d’interaction, l’objet des discussions, le niveau de responsabilité individuelle de chaque membre, ainsi que la présence de conduites d’autorégulation.
Conceptualisation, symbolisation et interactions enseignante/enseignant-élèves dans les apprentissages mathématiques : l’exemple de la généralisation
Authors: Vlassis Joëlle , Demonty Isabelle
Published: January 2020

Partant de la définition de l’apprentissage et des objets mathématiques selon Radford (2008), cet article propose une réflexion sur l’interdépendance des objets mathématiques, leurs symbolisations et les interactions sociales dans le processus d’apprentissage. Il vise à interroger la manière dont s’articulent ces trois composantes indissociables et présente, sur cette base, un modèle intégratif de l’apprentissage des mathématiques. Il vise à examiner en particulier l’importance des interactions entre l’enseignant ou l’enseignante et les élèves. Si l’importance des interactions sociales est démontrée depuis de nombreuses années, ce sont en effet principalement les interactions entre les élèves qui ont été étudiées (Schubauer-Leoni et Perret-Clermont, 1997; Iiskala, Vauras, Lehtinen et Salonen, 2011). Ce n’est qu’assez récemment que l’importance des interactions entre l’enseignant ou l’enseignante et les élèves a été mise en évidence. Dans notre article, nous proposons donc d’analyser plus particulièrement les interactions entre l’enseignant ou l’enseignante et les élèves, dans le contexte d’une activité de généralisation en algèbre. Nous montrons l’importance d’interventions de qualité de la part de l’enseignant, sur la base du modèle de Jacobs et al. (2010, dans Callejo et Zapareta, 2016), pour faire émerger les savoirs mathématiques des pratiques sociales de la classe.
Une entrée par l’évaluation des apprentissages pour analyser les interactions entre l’enseignant ou l’enseignante et les élèves dans les moments de mise en commun
Authors: Pilet Julia , Allard Cécile , Horoks Julie
Published: January 2020

Dans cet article, nous analysons les pratiques enseignantes d’évaluation formative en mathématiques, à travers les interactions organisées en classe pendant les moments de mise en commun. Nous croisons plusieurs cadres d’analyse des pratiques en didactique des mathématiques, de même que des outils liés à la recherche sur l’évaluation. Nous illustrons ces analyses avec un exemple de mise en commun dans une classe de collège, pour montrer de quelle façon l’enseignant, dans ses interactions avec les élèves, s’appuie plus ou moins sur ce que les élèves produisent et sur les mathématiques en jeu dans les interactions.
Histoire des religions
Authors: Vecoli Fabrizio
Published: January 2020

Cet article dresse un portrait de certaines difficultés rencontrées aujourd’hui par l’histoire des religions comme discipline académique. On se concentre notamment sur la question de la comparaison, où les problèmes théoriques semblent atteindre un niveau critique. Se situant au croisement entre l’histoire au sens propre et les sciences sociales de type plus synchronique, l’histoire des religions se trouve à devoir gérer plusieurs contradictions théoriques. La proposition avancée dans ce texte consiste à se tourner du côté des théories de la complexité, dont l’impact dans les sciences humaines est grandissant : celles-ci permettraient, en effet, d’adopter une nouvelle épistémologie capable de surmonter certaines dichotomies sans tomber dans l’irrationalisme.
La culture religieuse comme objet d’apprentissage
Authors: Estivalèzes Mireille
Published: January 2020

Le Québec a fait le choix original, il y a dix ans, d’implanter un nouvel enseignement d’éthique et culture religieuse obligatoire pour tous les élèves des écoles primaires et secondaires. Ce programme propose une approche culturelle de l’étude du phénomène religieux en vue de favoriser sa compréhension dans la diversité des formes qu’il peut emprunter. Or, faire des religions un objet d’apprentissage scolaire parmi d’autres ne va pas sans susciter nombre de critiques et de résistances qui témoignent d’un rapport difficile au religieux dans la société québécoise. Le regard porté sur les religions, parfois négatif et simplificateur, tend à en faire des objets nuisibles, du moins désuets, devant être jugés à l’aune de valeurs contemporaines, et ce, au détriment de l’analyse informée de réalités historiques complexes, ainsi que d’une réflexion favorisant la compréhension du monde contemporain et de l’humanité dans l’ensemble de sa riche diversité.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of cereal bran extract for sunflower oil stability during frying
Authors: Ajala Abayomi W. , Ghavami Abdollah
Published: January 2020

This study evaluated the effectiveness of black rice, millet and barley bran extracts against oxidative degradation of sunflower oil in frying, by determining the total antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, free fatty acid content, conjugated diene content and total polar content. It was reported that the total phenolic content rice bran was approximately three times higher than that of the millet bran extracts and five times higher than the results for barley bran extracts. The total antioxidant activity results for barley bran and rice bran extract (40.95 ± 0.07and 40.87 ± 0.04 Trolox equivalent μmol/g of bran, respectively) were two times higher than that of millet bran extract (17.16 ± 0.34 Trolox equivalent μmol/g of bran). The results of the effectiveness of the cereal bran extracts were significantly different (p<0.05). The free fatty acid content of the rice bran and propyl gallate enriched oil samples showed better results (2.02 ± 0.01% and 1.62 ± 0.00%) than millet, barley and control enriched oil samples (3.43 ±0.01%, 3.13±0.01% and 6.13 ± 0.01% respectively). In the same vein, conjugated diene content results from all the enriched oil samples indicated that the rice bran enriched oil sample had the least amount of secondary oxidized products compared to the other enriched oil samples. It can be concluded that rice bran extract can be used for frying without discarding or replenishing the oil.
Evaluation of gum arabic from Acacia senegal var kerensis and Acacia senegal var senegal as a stabilizer in low-fat yoghurt
Authors: Mugo Edward Muita , Mahungu Symon M. , Chikamai Ben N. , Mwove Johnson
Published: January 2020

Gum arabic is a dried, gummy exudate obtained from the stems and branches of Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal. In Kenya, gum arabic comes from Acacia senegal var kerensis although its exploitation for commercial and industrial application is marginal. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize and determine the effect of the gum from A. senegal var kerensis on the quality characteristics of set low-fat yoghurt compared to gum arabic from A. senegal var senegal, with a view to increasing its utilization locally. Yoghurt was prepared containing gum arabic at four concentrations (0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% gum w/v).  Results showed that A. senegal var kerensis gum had higher molecular weight and gelling properties compared to A. senegal var senegal gum. In addition, A. senegal var kerensis gum was less susceptible to syneresis and showed a higher absolute viscosity compared to A. senegal var senegal gum at all concentration levels. Sensory evaluation revealed that addition of gum arabic significantly improved the body and the texture of the yoghurt. Therefore, A. senegal var kerensis gum is a better yoghurt stabilizer than gum arabic from A. senegal var senegal. An optimal gum concentration of 0.6% of A. senegal var kerensis gum in low-fat yoghurt is recommended from the results of this study.
Comprehensive annotations of human herpesvirus 6A and 6B genomes reveal novel and conserved genomic features
Authors: Finkel Yaara , Schmiedel Dominik , Tai-Schmiedel Julie , Nachshon Aharon , Winkler Roni , Dobesova Martina , Schwartz Michal , Mandelboim Ofer , Stern-Ginossar Noam
Published: January 2020

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) A and B are ubiquitous betaherpesviruses, infecting the majority of the human population. They encompass large genomes and our understanding of their protein coding potential is far from complete. Here, we employ ribosome-profiling and systematic transcript-analysis to experimentally define HHV-6 translation products. We identify hundreds of new open reading frames (ORFs), including upstream ORFs (uORFs) and internal ORFs (iORFs), generating a complete unbiased atlas of HHV-6 proteome. By integrating systematic data from the prototypic betaherpesvirus, human cytomegalovirus, we uncover numerous uORFs and iORFs conserved across betaherpesviruses and we show uORFs are enriched in late viral genes. We identified three highly abundant HHV-6 encoded long non-coding RNAs, one of which generates a non-polyadenylated stable intron appearing to be a conserved feature of betaherpesviruses. Overall, our work reveals the complexity of HHV-6 genomes and highlights novel features conserved between betaherpesviruses, providing a rich resource for future functional studies.
Revisiting the genomes of herpesviruses
Authors: Prusty Bhupesh K , Whisnant Adam W
Published: January 2020

Combining integrative genomics and systems biology approaches has revealed new and conserved features in the genome of human herpesvirus 6.
Landmark-based homologous multi-point warping approach to 3D facial recognition using multiple datasets
Authors: Agbolade Olalekan , Nazri Azree , Yaakob Razali , Ghani Abdul Azim Abd , Cheah Yoke Kqueen
Published: January 2020

Over the years, neuroscientists and psychophysicists have been asking whether data acquisition for facial analysis should be performed holistically or with local feature analysis. This has led to various advanced methods of face recognition being proposed, and especially techniques using facial landmarks. The current facial landmark methods in 3D involve a mathematically complex and time-consuming workflow involving semi-landmark sliding tasks. This paper proposes a homologous multi-point warping for 3D facial landmarking, which is verified experimentally on each of the target objects in a given dataset using 500 landmarks (16 anatomical fixed points and 484 sliding semi-landmarks). This is achieved by building a template mesh as a reference object and applying this template to each of the targets in three datasets using an artificial deformation approach. The semi-landmarks are subjected to sliding along tangents to the curves or surfaces until the bending energy between a template and a target form is minimal. The results indicate that our method can be used to investigate shape variation for multiple datasets when implemented on three databases (Stirling, FRGC and Bosphorus).
A Catheter‐Deployable Soft Robotic Inflatable Basket for Enhanced Conformability to the Left Atrium of the Heart
Authors: Farokhnia Nazanin , Caprio Alexandre , Kashyap Varun , Al'Aref Subhi , Baskaran Lohendran , Mosadegh Bobak , Dunham Simon
Published: January 2020

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and test results for a novel basket catheter that utilizes soft robotic technology, which can conform to complex patient anatomy. Two designs of basket‐shaped balloons in three sizes are fabricated based on a CO2 laser cutting method from thin (<50 µm) thermoplastic polyurethane. The balloons are deployed in four soft‐material 3D printed left atria, whose geometries are based on volume rendered segmentation of cardiac computed tomography (CT) scans. The coverage and conformability to the realistic patient anatomies is tracked with the small patches of pH paper that indicate, via a color change, contact with a basic solution that lined the 3D printed atriums. The conformability of these inflatable basket catheters is demonstrated as high as (85%) for the optimized design. To visualize the balloon's performance, microCT images of balloons deployed in 3D printed models are shown. These images show the ability of the balloons to adapt to complex patient anatomy and do not exhibit any spline bunching or other deleterious mechanical behavior. This platform has the potential to be coupled with electrical sensors for simultaneous multisensor mapping of atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias.
On‐Demand Printing of Wearable Thermotherapy Pad
Authors: Moon Dong‐Il , Plečkaitytė Gintarė , Choi Taejun , Seol Myeong‐Lok , Kim Beomseok , Lee Dongil , Han Jin‐Woo , Meyyappan M.
Published: January 2020

Thermotherapy is an effective method for pain relief, recovery from injury, and general healthcare. The ordinary heat pad used for thermotherapy at home is not usually tailored to the individual but supplied in a few different pre‐fixed sizes and shapes for mass marketing. A customized wearable heat pad often requires expert support. Herein, an instant, custom‐fit, and on‐demand heat pad for thermotherapy is demonstrated. The heater is directly printed using silver nanoparticle ink on an off‐the‐shelf medical grade tape by inkjet technology. By coating the tape with silica nanoparticles as ink‐absorbing layer and chloride ions as chemical sintering agent, stable heater patterns are printed without the need for subsequent high temperature sintering process. A 3D scanner is used to acquire body information, and a customized heater is produced using the information. The printed heat pad is attached to the shoulder and the effect of thermotherapy is verified objectively through electroencephalography and subjectively through survey. This printed heat pad produced by simple and low‐cost fabrication provides wearable medical devices for personal thermotherapy.
Chemically Tailored Multifunctional Asymmetric Isoporous Triblock Terpolymer Membranes for Selective Transport
Authors: Zhang Zhenzhen , Rahman Md. Mushfequr , Abetz Clarissa , Höhme Anke‐Lisa , Sperling Evgeni , Abetz Volker
Published: January 2020

Membrane‐based separation of organic molecules with 1–2 nm lateral dimensions is a demanding but rather underdeveloped technology. The major challenge is to fabricate membranes having distinct nanochannels with desired functionality. Here, a bottom‐up strategy to produce such a membrane using a tailor‐made triblock terpolymer featuring miscible end blocks with two different functional groups is demonstrated. A scalable multifunctional integral asymmetric isoporous membrane is fabricated by the solvent evaporation‐induced self‐assembly of the block copolymer combined with nonsolvent‐induced phase separation. The membrane nanopores are readily functionalized using positively and negatively charged moieties by two straightforward gas–solid reactions. The pores of the post‐functionalized membranes act as target‐specific functional soft nanochannels due to swelling of the polyelectrolyte blocks in a hydrated state. The membranes show unprecedented separation selectivity of small molecules based on size and/or charge which demonstrates the potential of the proposed strategy to prepare next‐generation nanofiltration membranes.
Exfoliated Mesoporous 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks for High‐Rate Electrochemical Double‐Layer Capacitors
Authors: Yusran Yusran , Li Hui , Guan Xinyu , Li Daohao , Tang Lingxue , Xue Ming , Zhuang Zhongbin , Yan Yushan , Valtchev Valentin , Qiu Shilun , Fang Qianrong
Published: January 2020

The electrochemical double‐layer capacitors (EDLCs) are highly demanded electrical energy storage devices due to their high power density with thousands of cycle life compared with pseudocapacitors and batteries. Herein, a series of capacitor cells composed of exfoliated mesoporous 2D covalent organic frameworks (e‐COFs) that are able to perform excellent double‐layer charge storage is reported. The selected mesoporous 2D COFs possess eclipsed AA layer‐stacking mode with 3.4 nm square‐like open channels, favorable BET surface areas (up to 1170 m2 g−1), and high thermal and chemical stabilities. The COFs via the facile, scalable, and mild chemical exfoliation method are further exfoliated to produce thin‐layer structure with average thickness of about 22 nm. The e‐COF‐based capacitor cells achieve high areal capacitance (5.46 mF cm−2 at 1,000 mV s−1), high gravimetric power (55 kW kg−1), and relatively low τ0 value (121 ms). More importantly, they perform nearly an ideal DL charge storage at high charge–discharge rate (up to 30 000 mV s−1) and maintain almost 100% capacitance stability even after 10 000 cycles. This study thus provides insights into the potential utilization of COF materials for EDLCs.
Zinc‐Mediated Template Synthesis of Fe‐N‐C Electrocatalysts with Densely Accessible Fe‐Nx Active Sites for Efficient Oxygen Reduction
Authors: Chen Guangbo , Liu Pan , Liao Zhongquan , Sun Fanfei , He Yanghua , Zhong Haixia , Zhang Tao , Zschech Ehrenfried , Chen Mingwei , Wu Gang , Zhang Jian , Feng Xinliang
Published: January 2020

Owing to their earth abundance, high atom utilization, and excellent activity, single iron atoms dispersed on nitrogen‐doped carbons (Fe‐N‐C) have emerged as appealing alternatives to noble‐metal platinum (Pt) for catalyzing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the ORR activity of current Fe‐N‐C is seriously limited by the low density and inferior exposure of active Fe‐Nx species. Here, a novel zinc‐mediated template synthesis strategy is demonstrated for constructing densely exposed Fe‐Nx moieties on hierarchically porous carbon (SA‐Fe‐NHPC). During the thermal treatment of 2,6‐diaminopyridine/ZnFe/SiO2 complex, the zinc prevents the formation of iron carbide nanoparticles and the SiO2 template promotes the generation of hierarchically pores for substantially improving the accessibility of Fe‐Nx moieties after subsequent leaching. As a result, the SA‐Fe‐NHPC electrocatalysts exhibit an unprecedentedly high ORR activity with a half‐wave potential (E1/2) of 0.93 V in a 0.1 m KOH aqueous solution, which outperforms those for Pt/C catalyst and state‐of‐the‐art noble metal‐free electrocatalysts. As the air electrode in zinc–air batteries, the SA‐Fe‐NHPC demonstrates a large peak power density of 266.4 mW cm−2 and superior long‐term stability. Therefore, the developed zinc‐mediated template synthesis strategy for boosting the density and accessibility of Fe‐Nx species paves a new avenue toward high‐performance ORR electrocatalysts.
Ultrahigh Ionic Exclusion through Carbon Nanomembranes
Authors: Yang Yang , Hillmann Roland , Qi Yubo , Korzetz Riko , Biere Niklas , Emmrich Daniel , Westphal Michael , Büker Björn , Hütten Andreas , Beyer André , Anselmetti Dario , Gölzhäuser Armin
Published: January 2020

The collective “single‐file” motion of water molecules through natural and artificial nanoconduits inspires the development of high‐performance membranes for water separation. However, a material that contains a large number of pores combining rapid water flow with superior ion rejection is still highly desirable. Here, a 1.2 nm thick carbon nanomembrane (CNM) made from cross‐linking of terphenylthiol (TPT) self‐assembled monolayers is reported to possess these properties. Utilizing their extremely high pore density of 1 sub‐nm channel nm−2, TPT CNMs let water molecules rapidly pass, while the translocation of ions, including protons, is efficiently hindered. Their membrane resistance reaches ≈104 Ω cm2 in 1 m Cl− solutions, comparable to lipid bilayers of a cell membrane. Consequently, a single CNM channel yields an ≈108 higher resistance than pores in lipid membrane channels and carbon nanotubes. The ultrahigh ionic exclusion by CNMs is likely dominated by a steric hindrance mechanism, coupled with electrostatic repulsion and entrance effects. The operation of TPT CNM membrane composites in forward osmosis is also demonstrated. These observations highlight the potential of utilizing CNMs for water purification and opens up a simple avenue to creating 2D membranes through molecular self‐assembly for highly selective and fast separations.
Precision Medicine in Oncology: In Vitro Drug Sensitivity and Resistance Test (DSRT) for Selection of Personalized Anticancer Therapy
Authors: Popova Anna A. , Levkin Pavel A.
Published: January 2020

Precision or personalized medicine aims to determine an optimal therapy for each individual patient. In oncology techniques such as next generation sequencing, mRNA‐sequencing, ChIP‐sequencing, and mass spectrometry are used to perform a full molecular profiling for each patient. However, it is not always possible to determine a suitable treatment for an individual cancer based on molecular profiling, mostly due to the high level of tumor heterogeneity. In vitro drug sensitivity and resistance test (DSRT) can be performed on cancer cells or tissues obtained from a patient with a panel of anticancer compounds in order to experimentally define sensitivity and resistance of each individual cancer. In combination with molecular profiling, DSRT can provide a fuller picture about the nature of disease, allowing for finding more appropriate therapy for each individual patient. In this progress report, studies describing in vitro DSRTs on 2D and 3D cell models based on patient‐derived cells are reviewed and challenges and future steps needed for the adaptation of these systems in clinics are discussed.
Improvement of Cell Penetrating Peptide for Efficient siRNA Targeting of Tumor Xenografts in Zebrafish Embryos
Authors: Laroui Nabila , Cubedo Nicolas , Rossel Mireille , Bettache Nadir
Published: January 2020

Cell‐penetrating peptides (CPPs) are one of the most efficient vectors for achieving cellular uptake of different cargos. However, their application in cancer therapy is greatly limited due to the lack of tissue selectivity, as they are widely distributed in most tissues following in vivo administration. To introduce specificity and improve tumor targeting, a combination of a cell‐penetrating peptide (CADY) and a targeting ligand, the laminin receptor binding peptide (YIGSR) to target the 37/67 kDa laminin receptor, known to be upregulated in most cancer cells and to be correlated with the invasiveness and metastatic potential, is formulated. The targeting CPP named “Y‐CADY” does not induce any change in the physico‐chemical properties (secondary structure, small interference RNA (siRNA) complexation, size, and charge) of CADY. Interestingly, Y‐CADY is more efficient than CADY for gene silencing in cell lines, and more potent for targeting and for inducing apoptosis of tumor xenografts in zebrafish embryos. The present study demonstrates that the novel targeting CPP “Y‐CADY” is efficient for gene silencing and can serve as a vector to target cancer cells in vivo.
Regulating the Catalytic Dynamics Through a Crystal Structure Modulation of Bimetallic Catalyst
Authors: Park Mihui , Liang Chaoping , Lee Tae Hyung , Agyeman Daniel Adjei , Yang Junghoon , Lau Vincent Wing‐hei , Choi Sang‐Il , Jang Ho Won , Cho Kyeongjae , Kang Yong‐Mook
Published: January 2020

The surface of solid catalysts is one of the most important factors where the interface with reaction products governs the reaction kinetics. Herein, the crystal phase of palladium–copper nanoparticles (PdCu NPs) is controlled to modulate their surface atomic arrangement, which will govern the growth dynamics of discharge products on their surfaces and thus the catalytic performances in non‐aqueous lithium–oxygen (Li‐O2) batteries. First‐principles calculations and experimental validations reveal that homogeneous nucleation and distribution of discharge products are observed on the surface of body‐centered cubic PdCu NPs, promoting the oxygen reduction/evolution reaction (ORR/OER) activities in Li‐O2 batteries. However, the agglomerates formed on the surface of its face‐centered cubic homologue deteriorates ORR/OER activities, which worsen the battery performances. For the first time, this work theoretically and experimentally demonstrates how the crystal phase modulation regulates the nucleation behaviors and growth dynamics of discharge products for ORR/OER.
Cropping pattern changes diminish agroecosystem services in North and South Dakota, USA
Authors: O'Brien Peter L. , Hatfield Jerry L. , Dold Christian , Kistner‐Thomas Erica J. , Wacha Kenneth M.
Published: January 2020

In the past several decades, North and South Dakota have experienced increased agricultural expansion and crop rotation simplification, namely an increase in corn (Zea mays L.)– soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] systems. This review investigates the nature and extent of those changes, the underlying causes, and the consequences they have on ecosystem services. The framework of ecosystem services is underutilized in agricultural research, but it can be used to describe the sustainability, resistance, and resilience of the system in relation to these land use changes. The current trends are focused on maximizing provisioning services (i.e., food and fuel) at the expense of regulating, cultural, and supporting services. The decline of regulating services can be seen in increased peak river flow (up to 100% and 200% increases in South and North Dakota, respectively), as well as by the 100% increase in area treated by chemicals, partially due to diminished bioregulation of pests and weeds. The effects on supporting services are demonstrated by altered C balances and water cycling, while the loss of cultural connection to the land is evidenced by a 40% decrease in land conservation since 1997. Overall, these changes are making the land in North and South Dakota more susceptible to stressors, such as drought, crop pests, or even economic trends that could greatly harm these agroecosystems and have nationwide ramifications. To address these changes, producers need to provide a balance of agroecosystem services by optimizing currently available management strategies and possibly transforming agricultural practices for long‐term system stability.
Weight perception among US adults predicts cardiovascular risk when controlling for body fat percentage
Authors: Cullin Jennifer M. , White Kurt E.
Published: January 2020

Objectives

Previous research has revealed that increased obesity prevalence in the US has occurred in concert with an increase in those in overweight and obese BMI categories perceiving their weight as “about right” since the 1980s. Using biological normalcy as a framework, we assess whether individual weight perception is related to the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) when controlling for body fat percentage (BF%).

Methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999‐2006) included weight perception, BF%, covariates, and variables to calculate Framingham Risk Score (CVD risk) among 9489 US Americans aged 20‐79 years.

Results

Logistic regression revealed that those perceiving themselves to be “overweight” had a significantly higher cardiovascular risk score compared to those considering their weight to be “about right” (OR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.12‐2.11, P = .008) after controlling for BF%, age, gender, ethnicity, poverty‐index‐ratio, education, family history of myocardial infarction, smoking status, and physical activity.

Conclusions

Perceiving one's own weight as “overweight” was significantly associated with increased 10‐year risk of a cardiovascular event when compared to those perceiving their weight to be “about right,” regardless of body composition. This suggests that recent changes in normative beliefs in response to increased obesity prevalence over the past several decades could play a role in the distribution of CVD risk in the US, whereby perceiving oneself as “about right” rather than “overweight” may result from decreases in internalization of fat stigma.
Biocultural diversity in Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene Africa: Olduvai Hominid 1 (Tanzania) biological affinity and intentional body modification
Authors: Willman John C. , Hernando Raquel , Matu Marie , Crevecoeur Isabelle
Published: January 2020

Objectives

The dentition of Olduvai Hominid 1 (OH1) exhibits an anomalous pattern of dental wear that was originally attributed to either intentional cultural modification (filing) or plant processing behaviors. A differential diagnosis of the wear and assessment of the biological affinity of OH1 is presented.

Materials and Methods

Macroscopic and microscopic observations of all labial and buccal tooth surfaces were undertaken to assess wear patterns. A multivariate analysis of mandibular morphology of OH1 compared to other Late Pleistocene, Holocene, and recent modern humans was used to ascertain biological affinity.

Results

The morphological variation of the OH1 mandible is closely aligned with variation in penecontemporaneous fossils from Africa and outside that of recent humans. The concave wear facets exposing dentin on the labial surfaces of all three preserved mandibular incisors is confirmed. Substantial loss of labial/buccal surfaces was documented on the surfaces of all in situ maxillary and mandibular canines, premolars, and molars ranging from distinct facets with well‐defined edges, to blunting or “polishing” around areas of maximum buccal curvature. The wear on both the anterior and postcanine teeth closely resemble that caused by adornments (“labrets”) worn in lower‐lip and buccal facial piercings known from bioarchaeological and ethnographic contexts. The wear pattern suggests that the OH1 wore three facial piercings—two buccal/lateral and a medial one in the lower lip.

Discussion

Our findings suggest that the expression of social identities through intentional body modification is more diverse than previously documented elsewhere in Africa during the Late Pleistocene (i.e., ablation) and Early Holocene (i.e., ablation, chipping, and filing).
Cognitive and physical markers of prodromal dementia: A 12‐year‐long population study
Authors: Grande Giulia , Rizzuto Debora , Vetrano Davide L. , Marseglia Anna , Vanacore Nicola , Laukka Erika J. , Welmer Anna‐Karin , Fratiglioni Laura
Published: January 2020

Introduction

The aim is to test whether adding a simple physical test such as walking speed (WS) to the neuropsychological assessment increases the predictive ability to detect dementia.

Methods

The 2546 dementia‐free people from the SNAC‐K study were grouped into four profiles: (1) healthy profile; (2) isolated cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND, scoring 1.5 standard deviation below age‐specific means on ≥1 cognitive domains); (3) isolated slow WS (<0.8 m/s); (4) CIND+ slow WS. The hazard of dementia (Cox regression), the positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), and the area under the curve (AUC) were estimated.

Results

Participants with CIND +slow WS demonstrated the highest hazard of dementia (3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5–4.8). The AUC increased from 0.69 for isolated CIND to 0.83 for CIND+ slow WS. Such an increase was due to the improvement of the PPV, the NPV remaining optimal.

Discussion

Adding WS to the cognitive assessment dramatically increases the diagnostic accuracy of prodromal dementia.
Tracking disease progression in familial and sporadic frontotemporal lobar degeneration: Recent findings from ARTFL and LEFFTDS
Authors: Rosen Howard J. , Boeve Bradley F. , Boxer Adam L.
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Familial frontotemporal lobar degeneration (f‐FTLD) due to autosomal dominant mutations is an important entity for developing treatments for FTLD. The Advancing Research and Treatment for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ARTFL) and Longitudinal Evaluation of Familial Frontotemporal Dementia Subjects (LEFFTDS) longitudinal studies were designed to describe the natural history of f‐FTLD.

Methods

We summarized recent publications from the ARTFL and LEFFTDS studies, along with other recent publications describing the natural history of f‐FTLD.

Results

Published and emerging studies are producing data on all phases of f‐FTLD, including the asymptomatic and symptomatic phases of disease, as well as the transitional phase when symptoms are just beginning to develop. These data indicate that rates of change increase along with disease severity, which is consistent with commonly cited models of neurodegeneration, and that measurement of biomarkers may predict onset of symptoms.

Discussion

Data from large multisite studies are producing important data on the natural history of f‐FTLD that will be critical for planning intervention trials.
Developing retinal biomarkers for the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease: What we know, what we don't, and how to move forward
Authors: Alber Jessica , Goldfarb Danielle , Thompson Louisa I. , Arthur Edmund , Hernandez Kimberly , Cheng Derrick , DeBuc Delia Cabrera , Cordeiro Francesca , Provetti‐Cunha Leonardo , den Haan Jurre , Van Stavern Gregory P. , Salloway Stephen P. , Sinoff Stuart , Snyder Peter J.
Published: January 2020

The last decade has seen a substantial increase in research focused on the identification, development, and validation of diagnostic and prognostic retinal biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Sensitive retinal biomarkers may be advantageous because they are cost and time efficient, non‐invasive, and present a minimal degree of patient risk and a high degree of accessibility. Much of the work in this area thus far has focused on distinguishing between symptomatic AD and/or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitively normal older adults. Minimal work has been done on the detection of preclinical AD, the earliest stage of AD pathogenesis characterized by the accumulation of cerebral amyloid absent clinical symptoms of MCI or dementia. The following review examines retinal structural changes, proteinopathies, and vascular alterations that have been proposed as potential AD biomarkers, with a focus on studies examining the earliest stages of disease pathogenesis. In addition, we present recommendations for future research to move beyond the discovery phase and toward validation of AD risk biomarkers that could potentially be used as a first step in a multistep screening process for AD risk detection.
Mild behavioral impairment is associated with β‐amyloid but not tau or neurodegeneration in cognitively intact elderly individuals
Authors: Lussier Firoza Z. , Pascoal Tharick A. , Chamoun Mira , Therriault Joseph , Tissot Cécile , Savard Mélissa , Kang Min Su , Mathotaarachchi Sulantha , Benedet Andrea L. , Parsons Marlee , Qureshi Muhammad Naveed Iqbal , Thomas Émilie M. , Shin Monica , Dion Laurie‐Anne , Massarweh Gassan , Soucy Jean‐Paul , Tsai I‐Huang , Vitali Paolo , Ismail Zahinoor , Rosa‐Neto Pedro , Gauthier Serge
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Mild behavioral impairment (MBI) is characterized by the emergence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in elderly persons. Here, we examine the associations between MBI and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers in asymptomatic elderly individuals.

Methods

Ninety‐six cognitively normal elderly individuals underwent MRI, [18F]AZD4694 β‐amyloid‐PET, and [18F]MK6240 tau‐PET. MBI was assessed using the MBI Checklist (MBI‐C). Pearson's correlations and voxel‐based regressions were used to evaluate the relationship between MBI‐C score and [18F]AZD4694 retention, [18F]MK6240 retention, and gray matter (GM) volume.

Results

Pearson correlations revealed a positive relationship between MBI‐C score and global and striatal [18F]AZD4694 standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs). Voxel‐based regression analyses revealed a positive correlation between MBI‐C score and [18F]AZD4694 retention. No significant correlations were found between MBI‐C score and [18F]MK6240 retention or GM volume.

Conclusion

We demonstrate for the first time a link between MBI and early AD pathology in a cognitively intact elderly population, supporting the use of the MBI‐C as a metric to enhance clinical trial enrolment.
Interaction between APOE4 and herpes simplex virus type 1 in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Linard Morgane , Letenneur Luc , Garrigue Isabelle , Doize Angélique , Dartigues Jean‐François , Helmer Catherine
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Numerous results suggest the implication of infectious agents in the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

In the Bordeaux‐3C prospective cohort, we assessed the impact of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) infection on the incidence of AD according to apolipoprotein E (APOE) status, a genetic susceptibility factor. Cox models were performed to estimate the 10‐year risk of AD associated with anti‐HSV antibodies in 1037 participants according to APOE4 status.

Results

Among APOE4 carriers, subjects for whom the frequency of HSV‐1 reactivation is supposed to be high, that is, immunoglobulin M (IgM) positive or elevated levels of IgG, had an increased risk of AD with adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of 3.68 (1.08–12.55) and 3.28 (1.19–9.03), respectively. No significant association was found in APOE4‐negative subjects.

Discussion

These results, in accordance with a solid pathophysiological rationale, suggest a role for HSV‐1 in AD development among subjects with a genetic susceptibility factor, the APOE4 allele.
Late‐life cognitive decline is associated with hippocampal volume, above and beyond its associations with traditional neuropathologic indices
Authors: Dawe Robert J. , Yu Lei , Arfanakis Konstantinos , Schneider Julie A. , Bennett David A. , Boyle Patricia A.
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Reduced hippocampal volume is associated with late‐life cognitive decline, but prior studies have not determined whether this association persists after accounting for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neuropathologies.

Methods

Participants were 531 deceased older adults from community‐based cohort studies of aging who had undergone annual cognitive evaluations. At death, brain tissue underwent neuropathologic examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Linear mixed models examined whether hippocampal volume measured via MRI accounted for variation in decline rate of global cognition and five cognitive domains, above and beyond neuropathologic indices.

Results

Demographics and indices of AD, cerebrovascular disease, Lewy body disease, hippocampal sclerosis, TDP‐43, and atherosclerosis accounted for 42.6% of the variation in global cognitive decline. Hippocampal volume accounted for an additional 5.4% of this variation and made similar contributions in four of the five cognitive domains.

Discussion

Hippocampal volume is associated with late‐life cognitive decline, above and beyond contributions from common neuropathologic indices.