bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-currency regime and markets in early nineteenth-century Finland
Authors: Voutilainen Miikka , Turunen Riina , Ojala Jari
Published: December 2019

Pre-industrial money supply typically consisted of multiple, often foreign currencies. Standard economic theory implies that this entails welfare loss due to transaction costs imposed by currency exchange. Through a study of novel data on Finnish nineteenth-century parish-level currency conditions, we show that individual currencies had principal areas of circulation, with extensive co-circulation restricted to the boundary regions in between. We show that trade networks, defined here through the regional co-movement of grain prices, proved crucial in determining the currency used. Market institutions and standard price mechanisms had an apparent role in the spread of different currencies and in determining the dominant currency in a given region. Our findings provide a caveat for the widely held assumption that associates multi-currency systems with negative trade externalities.
Structure and validity of the Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire in female adolescents
Authors: Shu Chloe Y. , O’Brien Amy , Watson Hunna J. , Anderson Rebecca A. , Wade Tracey D. , Kane Robert T. , Lampard Amy , Egan Sarah J.
Published: December 2019

Background:

Perfectionism is a transdiagnostic risk factor across psychopathology. The Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire (CPQ) was developed to assess change in order to provide clinical utility, but currently the psychometric properties of the CPQ with adolescents is unknown.

Aims:

To assess the factor structure and construct validity of the CPQ in female adolescents.

Method:

The CPQ was administered to 267 females aged 14–19 years of age. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the validity of the two-factor model and a second-order factor model. Pearson correlations were used to evaluate the relationships between the CPQ and a wide range of measures of perfectionism, psychopathology and personality traits.

Results:

The study demonstrated internal consistency, construct validity and incremental validity of the CPQ in a sample of female adolescents. The CFA in the present study confirmed the two-factor model of the CPQ with Factor 1 relating to perfectionistic strivings and Factor 2 representing perfectionistic concerns. The second-order two factor model indicated no deterioration in fit.

Conclusions:

The two-factor model of the CPQ fits with the theoretical definition of clinical perfectionism where the over-dependence of self-worth on achievement and concern over mistakes are key elements. The CPQ is suitable for use with female adolescents in future research that seeks to better understand the role of perfectionism in the range of mental illnesses that impact youth.
Attentional control in interpreting: A model of language control and processing control
Authors: Dong Yanping , Li Ping
Published: December 2019

Interpreting is a complex bilingual task, placing high demands on both language control (i.e., source language not interfering in target language production) and processing control (i.e., multi-tasking carried out in concert under time pressure). On the basis of empirical evidence in the literature, we propose an attentional control model to account for both language control and processing control. Specifically, language control in interpreting is achieved by a structural framework of language-modality connections (established in interpreting training and stored as task schema), and by focused attention that helps build, strengthen and adapt the framework through monitoring, target enhancement, task disengagement, shifting, and working memory. In contrast, processing control in interpreting is achieved by divided attention via coordination and working memory, and by language processing efficiency that includes mastery of both languages and the appropriate use of interpreting strategies. Implications of this model for general bilingual language control are discussed.
DIFFERENCE-MAKING CONDITIONALS AND THE RELEVANT RAMSEY TEST
Authors: ROTT HANS
Published: December 2019

This article explores conditionals expressing that the antecedent makes a difference for the consequent. A ‘relevantised’ version of the Ramsey Test for conditionals is employed in the context of the classical theory of belief revision. The idea of this test is that the antecedent is relevant to the consequent in the following sense: a conditional is accepted just in case (i) the consequent is accepted if the belief state is revised by the antecedent and (ii) the consequent fails to be accepted if the belief state is revised by the antecedent’s negation. The connective thus defined violates almost all of the traditional principles of conditional logic, but it obeys an interesting logic of its own. The article also gives the logic of an alternative version, the ‘Dependent Ramsey Test,’ according to which a conditional is accepted just in case (i) the consequent is accepted if the belief state is revised by the antecedent and (ii) the consequent is rejected (e.g., its negation is accepted) if the belief state is revised by the antecedent’s negation. This conditional is closely related to David Lewis’s counterfactual analysis of causation.
Voters reward hard-working MPs: empirical evidence from the French legislative elections
Authors: François Abel , Navarro Julien
Published: December 2019

This paper studies the relationship between incumbent MPs’ activities and their electoral fortune. We address this question in the context of the French political system characterized by an executive domination, a candidate-centered electoral system, and an electoral schedule maximizing the impact of the presidential elections. Given the contradictory influence of these three institutional features on the relationship between MPs’ activities and electoral results, the overall link can only be assessed empirically. We test the effects of several measurements of MPs’ activities on both their vote share and reelection probability in the 2007 legislative election. We show that MPs’ activities are differently correlated to both the incumbents’ vote shares in the first round and their reelection. Despite the weakness of the French National Assembly, several parliamentary activities, especially bill initiation, have a significant effect on MPs’ electoral prospects.
The Propagation Effects of Lightning Electromagnetic Fields Over Mountainous Terrain in the Earth‐Ionosphere Waveguide
Authors: Li Dongshuai , Luque Alejandro , Rachidi Farhad , Rubinstein Marcos , Azadifar Mohammad , Diendorfer Gerhard , Pichler Hannes
Published: December 2019

In this paper, a full‐wave two‐dimensional Finite‐Difference‐Time‐Domain model is developed to evaluate the propagation effects of lightning electromagnetic fields over mountainous terrain in the Earth‐ionosphere waveguide. In the model, we investigate the effect of the Earth‐ionosphere waveguide structure and medium parameters, including the effect of the ionospheric cold plasma characteristics, the effect of the Earth curvature, and the propagation effects over mountainous terrain. For the first time, the obtained results are validated against simultaneous experimental data consisting of lightning currents measured at the Säntis Tower and electric fields measured in Neudorf, Austria, located at 380‐km distance from the tower. It is shown that both the time delays and amplitudes of the lightning electromagnetic fields at 380‐km distance can be strongly affected by the ionospheric electron density profile, the mountainous terrain, and the Earth curvature. After taking into account the effect of the irregular terrain between the Säntis Tower and the field measurement station, the vertical electric fields calculated by using our model are found to be in good agreement with the corresponding measured cases occurred in both daytime and nighttime. The ideal approximation used in either the classical solutions or the simplified models might lead to inaccuracies in the estimated reflection height. Furthermore, we discuss the sensitivity of our results by considering different return stroke models, as well as different typical values of the return stroke speed and of the ground conductivity.
Ocean Science Decade Calls Attention to a Wave of Concerns
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: December 2019

The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development is a wake-up call and a motivation to manage the ocean sustainably.
Computerized Cognitive Training in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Allen Taryn M. , Anderson Lindsay M. , Brotkin Samuel M. , Rothman Jennifer A. , Bonner Melanie J.
Published: December 2019

Objective: The current study assessed the feasibility of a computerized cognitive intervention, Cogmed, in a sample of youth with SCD (ages 8–16 years). If deemed feasible, the secondary aim of the study was to evaluate preliminary efficacy. Methods: Youth with SCD were randomized to a waitlist control or the Cogmed program. Data pertaining to cognitive functioning, psychosocial functioning, and disease characteristics were obtained from participants pre- and postintervention. In addition, data regarding participant interest, consent rate, and intervention compliance were tracked. Results: Eighteen participants ( M = 12.2 years old) enrolled in this study. Results indicate that the majority of prospective families approached about the intervention (82%) expressed interest in participating in the study, although less than 25% of interested participants enrolled. Three of 18 consenting participants completed the intervention. Cognitive, medical, and psychosocial factors related to feasibility and compliance were identified. Conclusions: Taken together, the results of this study suggest that there is a high degree of interest for this type of intervention but poor feasibility in practice. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Implications for Impact Statement

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have a high risk of neurocognitive impairment, for which there are no interventions supported by research. While the computerized, game-like treatment “Cogmed” has been successfully used with other groups, the current study demonstrated very limited tolerability in youth with SCD. Thus, additional efforts are needed to innovate new cognitive therapies for this unique and in need population of children.
PLAGL2 promotes epithelial–mesenchymal transition and mediates colorectal cancer metastasis via β-catenin-dependent regulation of ZEB1
Authors: Wu Liang , Zhou Zili , Han Shengbo , Chen Jinhuang , Liu Zhengyi , Zhang Xudan , Yuan Wenzheng , Ji Jintong , Shu Xiaogang
Published: December 2019

Background

We previously demonstrated that the pleomorphic adenoma gene like-2 (PLAGL2) is involved in the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung disease. Enhanced PLAGL2 expression was observed in several malignant tumours. However, the exact function of PLAGL2 and its underlying mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely unknown.

Methods

Immunohistochemical analysis of PLAGL2 was performed. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to reveal the role of PLAGL2 in the progression of CRC.

Results

Enhanced PLAGL2 expression was significantly associated with EMT-related proteins in CRC. The data revealed that PLAGL2 promotes CRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, PLAGL2 promoted the expression of ZEB1. PLAGL2 enhanced the expression and nuclear translocation of β-catenin by decreasing its phosphorylation. The depletion of β-catenin neutralised the regulation of ZEB1 that was caused by enhanced PLAGL2 expression. The small-molecule inhibitor PNU-74654, also impaired the enhancement of ZEB1 that resulted from the modified PLAGL2 expression. The depletion of ZEB1 could block the biological function of PLAGL2 in CRC cells.

Conclusions

Collectively, our findings suggest that PLAGL2 mediates EMT to promote colorectal cancer metastasis via β-catenin-dependent regulation of ZEB1.
A truncating mutation in the autophagy gene UVRAG drives inflammation and tumorigenesis in mice
Authors: Quach Christine , Song Ying , Guo Hongrui , Li Shun , Maazi Hadi , Fung Marshall , Sands Nathaniel , O’Connell Douglas , Restrepo-Vassalli Sara , Chai Billy , Nemecio Dali , Punj Vasu , Akbari Omid , Idos Gregory E. , Mumenthaler Shannon M. , Wu Nancy , Martin Sue Ellen , Hagiya Ashley , Hicks James , Cui Hengmin , Liang Chengyu
Published: December 2019

Aberrant autophagy is a major risk factor for inflammatory diseases and cancer. However, the genetic basis and underlying mechanisms are less established. UVRAG is a tumor suppressor candidate involved in autophagy, which is truncated in cancers by a frameshift (FS) mutation and expressed as a shortened UVRAGFS. To investigate the role of UVRAGFS in vivo, we generated mutant mice that inducibly express UVRAGFS (iUVRAGFS). These mice are normal in basal autophagy but deficient in starvation- and LPS-induced autophagy by disruption of the UVRAG-autophagy complex. iUVRAGFS mice display increased inflammatory response in sepsis, intestinal colitis, and colitis-associated cancer development through NLRP3-inflammasome hyperactivation. Moreover, iUVRAGFS mice show enhanced spontaneous tumorigenesis related to age-related autophagy suppression, resultant β-catenin stabilization, and centrosome amplification. Thus, UVRAG is a crucial autophagy regulator in vivo, and autophagy promotion may help prevent/treat inflammatory disease and cancer in susceptible individuals.
Kinetics and detectability of the bridgmanite to post-perovskite transformation in the Earth's D″ layer
Authors: Langrand Christopher , Andrault Denis , Durand Stéphanie , Konôpková Zuzana , Hilairet Nadège , Thomas Christine , Merkel Sébastien
Published: December 2019

Bridgmanite, the dominant mineral in the Earth’s lower mantle, crystallizes in the perovskite structure and transforms into post-perovskite at conditions relevant for the D$${}^{{\prime\prime} }$$″ layer. This transformation affects the dynamics of the Earth’s lowermost mantle and can explain a range of seismic observations. The thickness over which the two phases coexist, however, can extend over 100 km, casting doubt on the assignment of the observed seismic boundaries. Here, experiments show that the bridgmanite to post-perovskite transition in (Mg$${}_{0.86}$$0.86,Fe$${}_{0.14}$$0.14)SiO$${}_{3}$$3 is fast on geological timescales. The transformation kinetics, however, affects reflection coefficients of $$P$$P and $$S$$S waves by more than one order of magnitude. Thick layers of coexisting bridgmanite and post-perovskite can hence be detected using seismic reflections. Morever, the detection and wave period dependence of D$${}^{{\prime\prime} }$$″ reflections can be used to constrain significant features of the Earth’s lowermost mantle, such as the thickness of the coexistence layer, and obtain information on temperature and grain sizes.
Observation of strong nonlinear interactions in parametric down-conversion of X-rays into ultraviolet radiation
Authors: Sofer S. , Sefi O. , Strizhevsky E. , Aknin H. , Collins S. P. , Nisbet G. , Detlefs B. , Sahle Ch. J. , Shwartz S.
Published: December 2019

Nonlinear interactions between X-rays and long wavelength radiation can be used as a powerful atomic-scale probe for light-matter interactions and for properties of valence electrons. However, reported X-ray nonlinear effects were small and their observations required tremendous efforts. Here we report the observation of strong nonlinearities in parametric down-conversion (PDC) of X-rays to long wavelength radiation in gallium arsenide and lithium niobate crystals, with efficiencies about 4 orders of magnitude stronger than the efficiencies measured in any material studied before. Furthermore, we show that the efficiency in the ferroelectric phase of strontium barium niobite is two orders of magnitude stronger than in its paraelectric phase. This observation suggests that the lack of inversion symmetry is the origin for the strong observed nonlinearity. Additionally, we demonstrate the ability to use the effect for the investigation of the spectral response of non-centrosymmetric materials at wavelengths ranging from infrared to soft X-rays.
Charge transport in a polar metal
Authors: Wang Jialu , Yang Liangwei , Rischau Carl Willem , Xu Zhuokai , Ren Zhi , Lorenz Thomas , Hemberger Joachim , Lin Xiao , Behnia Kamran
Published: December 2019

The fate of electric dipoles inside a Fermi sea is an old issue, yet poorly explored. Sr$${}_{1-x}$$1−xCa$${}_{x}$$xTiO$${}_{3}$$3 hosts a robust but dilute ferroelectricity in a narrow ($$0.0018\ <\ x\ <\ 0.02$$0.0018<x<0.02) window of substitution. This insulator becomes metallic by removal of a tiny fraction of its oxygen atoms. Here, we present a detailed study of low-temperature charge transport in Sr$${}_{1-x}$$1−xCa$${}_{x}$$xTiO$${}_{3-\delta }$$3−δ, documenting the evolution of resistivity with increasing carrier concentration ($$n$$n). Below a threshold carrier concentration, $${n}^{* }(x)$$n*(x), the polar structural-phase transition has a clear signature in resistivity and Ca substitution significantly reduces the 2 K mobility at a given carrier density. For three different Ca concentrations, we find that the phase transition fades away when one mobile electron is introduced for about $$7.9\pm 0.6$$7.9±0.6 dipoles. This threshold corresponds to the expected peak in anti-ferroelectric coupling mediated by a diplolar counterpart of Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) interaction. Our results imply that the transition is driven by dipole–dipole interaction, even in presence of a dilute Fermi sea. Charge transport for $$n\ <\ {n}^{* }(x)$$n<n*(x) shows a non-monotonic temperature dependence, most probably caused by scattering off the transverse optical phonon mode. A quantitative explanation of charge transport in this polar metal remains a challenge to theory. For $$n\ge {n}^{* }(x)$$n≥n*(x), resistivity follows a T-square behavior together with slight upturns (in both Ca-free and Ca-substituted samples). The latter are reminiscent of Kondo effect and most probably due to oxygen vacancies.
MIMIC-CXR, a de-identified publicly available database of chest radiographs with free-text reports
Authors: Johnson Alistair E. W. , Pollard Tom J. , Berkowitz Seth J. , Greenbaum Nathaniel R. , Lungren Matthew P. , Deng Chih-ying , Mark Roger G. , Horng Steven
Published: December 2019

Chest radiography is an extremely powerful imaging modality, allowing for a detailed inspection of a patient’s chest, but requires specialized training for proper interpretation. With the advent of high performance general purpose computer vision algorithms, the accurate automated analysis of chest radiographs is becoming increasingly of interest to researchers. Here we describe MIMIC-CXR, a large dataset of 227,835 imaging studies for 65,379 patients presenting to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Emergency Department between 2011–2016. Each imaging study can contain one or more images, usually a frontal view and a lateral view. A total of 377,110 images are available in the dataset. Studies are made available with a semi-structured free-text radiology report that describes the radiological findings of the images, written by a practicing radiologist contemporaneously during routine clinical care. All images and reports have been de-identified to protect patient privacy. The dataset is made freely available to facilitate and encourage a wide range of research in computer vision, natural language processing, and clinical data mining.
Changes in meta-transcriptome of rumen epimural microbial community and liver transcriptome in young calves with feed induced acidosis
Authors: Li Wenli , Gelsinger Sonia , Edwards Andrea , Riehle Christina , Koch Daniel
Published: December 2019

The common management practices of dairy calves leads to increased starch concentration in feed, which subsequently may cause rumen acidosis while on milk and during weaning. Until recently, few attempts were undertaken to understand the health risks of prolonged ruminal acidosis in post weaning calves. Resultantly, the molecular changes in the digestive tracts in post-weaning calves with ruminal acidosis remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the liver transcriptome changes along with its correlation with the rumen microbial rRNA expression changes in young calves using our model of feed induced ruminal acidosis. In this model, new born calves were fed a highly processed, starch-rich diet starting from one week of age through 16 weeks. A total of eight calves were involved in this study. Four of them were fed the acidosis-inducing diet (Treated) and the rest of the four were fed a standard starter diet (Control). Liver and rumen epithelial tissues were collected at necropsy at 17 weeks of age. Transcriptome analyses were carried out in the liver tissues and rRNA meta-transcriptome analysis were done using the rumen epithelial tissues. The correlation analysis was performed by comparing the liver mRNA expression with the rumen epithelial rRNA abundance at genus level. Calves with induced ruminal acidosis had significantly lower ruminal pH in comparison to the control group, in addition to significantly less weight-gain over the course of the experiment. In liver tissues, a total of 428 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (fold-change, FC ≥ 1.5; adjustedP ≤ 0.1) were identified in treated group in comparison to control. Biological pathways enriched by these DEGs included cellular component organization, indicating the impact of ruminal acidosis on liver development in young calves. Specifically, the up-regulated genes were enriched in acute phase response(P < 0.01), pyruvate metabolic process (P < 0.01) and proton-acceptors (P ≪ 0.001), indicating the liver’s response to feed induced acidosis at the transcriptome level. Twelve transferase activity related genes had significant correlation with rumen microbial rRNA expression changes. Among these genes, two up-regulated genes were reported with involvement in lipid metabolism in the liver, implying the direct effect of feed-induced acidosis on both the rumen microbial community and liver metabolism. Our study provides insight into the physiological remodeling in the liver resultant from the prolonged acidosis in post weaning calves, which may facilitate future RNA-seq based diagnosis and precision management of rumen acidosis in dairy calves.
Novel Bacteria-Immobilized Cellulose Acetate/Poly(ethylene oxide) Nanofibrous Membrane for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Zamel Doaa , Hassanin Ahmed H. , Ellethy Rania , Singer Gamal , Abdelmoneim Ahmed
Published: December 2019

In this study, electrospun cellulose acetate - poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibrous membrane was found to be unique in immobilizing bacterial cells. Here, removal of methylene blue in aqueous media was achieved by using isolated species of bacteria (Bacillus paramycoides) from industrial wastewater and immobilized on cellulose acetate- poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers using DMSO as a solvent. The decolorization time was varied from 0 to 72 h, different dye concentrations from 20 to 200 mg/L and bacterial cells count was investigated to achieve the maximum MB removal by bacteria-immobilized CA/PEO nanofibrous membrane. The effective dye decolorization was achieved within 48 h and MB removal % was around 93%. Furthermore, reusability of the bacteria-immobilized CA/PEO nanofibrous membrane was tested. It was found that after the 4th usage, 44% of the dye decolorization capacity still could be achieved. These results are promising and suggest that bacteria-immobilized CA/PEO nanofibrous membrane could be economically feasible and eco-friendly when used in MB removal from industrial wastewater. Combination of both adsorption and biodegradation methods was found to be effective in MB removal from aqueous media.
Slip length and structure of liquid water flowing past atomistic smooth charged walls
Authors: Geng Xinran , Yu Miao , Zhang Wei , Liu Qiwei , Yu Xiaopeng , Lu Yang
Published: December 2019

In this work, the slip behavior and structure of liquid water flowing between two charged solid planar walls were investigated using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. The upper and lower walls are positive and negative charged, respectively. It was shown that the slip length increases at smaller water-solid interaction energy and become smaller with increasing the surface charge density. At the largest surface charge density, the slip length nearly independent of the water-solid interaction energy. The relationship between the slip length and surface charge density and water-solid interaction energy was rationalized by considering the static structure factor of liquid water. Interestingly, the positive charged surface induces less ordering structure and larger slip at the small surface charge density than that by the negative charged surface. While, at large surface charge density, the opposite correlation is observed. Furthermore, we find that the relationship between the slip length and the normalized main peak of static structure factor collapses onto a single curve for different water-solid interaction energies and surface charge densities. The results of the present work open perspectives for modeling complex systems with combined effects of surface charge and wettability.
Author Correction: An engineered CARS substrate with giant field enhancement in crisscross dimer nanostructure
Authors: Zhang Jia , Chen Shu , Wang Junqiao , Mu Kaijun , Fan Chunzhen , Liang Erjun , Ding Pei
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Preventing inpatient falls with injuries using integrative machine learning prediction: a cohort study
Authors: Wang Lin , Xue Zhong , Ezeana Chika F. , Puppala Mamta , Chen Shenyi , Danforth Rebecca L. , Yu Xiaohui , He Tiancheng , Vassallo Mark L. , Wong Stephen T. C.
Published: December 2019

Patient falls during hospitalization can lead to severe injuries and remain one of the most vexing patient-safety problems facing hospitals. They lead to increased medical care costs, lengthened hospital stays, more litigation, and even death. Existing methods and technology to address this problem mostly focus on stratifying inpatients at risk, without predicting fall severity or injuries. Here, a retrospective cohort study was designed and performed to predict the severity of inpatient falls, based on a machine learning classifier integrating multi-view ensemble learning and model-based missing data imputation method. As input, over two thousand inpatient fall patients’ demographic characteristics, diagnoses, procedural data, and bone density measurements were retrieved from the HMH clinical data warehouse from two separate time periods. The predictive classifier developed based on multi-view ensemble learning with missing values (MELMV) outperformed other three baseline models; achieved a cross-validated AUC of 0.713 (95% CI, 0.701–0.725), an AUC of 0.808 (95% CI, 0.740–0.876) on the separate testing set. Our studies show the efficacy of integrative machine-learning based classifier model in dealing with multi-source patient data, which in this case delivers robust predictive performance on the severity of patient falls. The severe fall index provided by the MELMV classifier is calculated to identify inpatients who are at risk of having severe injuries if they fall, thus triggering additional steps of intervention to prevent a harmful fall, beyond the standard-of-care procedure for all high-risk fall patients.
Author Correction: Modularity increases rate of floral evolution and adaptive success for functionally specialized pollination systems
Authors: Dellinger Agnes S. , Artuso Silvia , Pamperl Susanne , Michelangeli Fabián A. , Penneys Darin S. , Fernández-Fernández Diana M. , Alvear Marcela , Almeda Frank , Armbruster W. Scott , Staedler Yannick , Schönenberger Jürg
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Polarizability and isotope effects on dispersion interactions in water
Authors: Zhan Yi-Yang , Jiang Qi-Chun , Ishii Kentaro , Koide Takuya , Kobayashi Osamu , Kojima Tatsuo , Takahashi Satoshi , Tachikawa Masanori , Uchiyama Susumu , Hiraoka Shuichi
Published: December 2019

True understanding of dispersion interaction in solution remains elusive because of difficulty in the precise evaluation of its interaction energy. Here, the effect of substituents with different polarizability on dispersion interactions in water is discussed based on the thermodynamic parameters determined by isothermal titration calorimetry for the formation of discrete aggregates from gear-shaped amphiphiles (GSAs). The substituents with higher polarizability enthalpically more stabilize the nanocube, which is due to stronger dispersion interactions and to the hydrophobic effect. The differences in the thermodynamic parameters for the nanocubes from the GSAs with CH3 and CD3 groups are also discussed to lead to the conclusion that the H/D isotope effect on dispersion interactions is negligibly small, which is due to almost perfect entropy-enthalpy compensation between the two isotopomers.
Controlled deprotection and release of a small molecule from a compartmented synthetic tissue module
Authors: Booth Michael J. , Cazimoglu Idil , Bayley Hagan
Published: December 2019

Synthetic tissues built from communicating aqueous droplets offer potential applications in biotechnology, however, controlled release of their contents has not been achieved. Here we construct two-droplet synthetic tissue modules that function in an aqueous environment. One droplet contains a cell-free protein synthesis system and a prodrug-activating enzyme and the other a small-molecule prodrug analog. When a Zn2+-sensitive protein pore is made in the first droplet, it allows the prodrug to migrate from the second droplet and become activated by the enzyme. With Zn2+ in the external medium, the activated molecule is retained in the module until it is released on-demand by a divalent cation chelator. The module is constructed in such a manner that one or more, potentially with different properties, might be incorporated into extended synthetic tissues, including patterned materials generated by 3D-printing. Such modules will thereby increase the sophistication of synthetic tissues for applications including controlled multidrug delivery.
Dynamically visualizing battery reactions by operando Kelvin probe force microscopy
Authors: Masuda Hideki , Matsushita Kyosuke , Ito Daigo , Fujita Daisuke , Ishida Nobuyuki
Published: December 2019

Energy storage devices using electrochemical reactions have become an integral part of our daily lives, and further improvement of their performance is highly demanded. An important task for this purpose is to thoroughly understand the electrochemical processes governing their chemistry. Here we develop a method based on Kelvin probe force microscopy that enables dynamic visualization of changes in the internal potential distribution in an operating electrochemical device and use it to characterize an all-solid-state lithium ion battery. Observation of the cathode composite regions during a cyclic voltammetry operation reveals differences between the behavior of local electrochemical reactions in the charge and discharge processes. Based on careful inspection of the results, we show that the difference arises from a change in the state of an electronic conductive path network in the composite electrode. Our method provides new insights into the local electrochemical reactions during electrochemical operation of devices.
Metasurface zone plate for light manipulation in vectorial regime
Authors: Yoon Gwanho , Jang Jaehyuck , Mun Jungho , Nam Ki Tae , Rho Junsuk
Published: December 2019

Fresnel zone plates consisting of multiple concentric rings have been realized by tailoring amplitude, phase and polarization of light, but conventional Fresnel zone plates require totally different materials to control each property reducing light controllability. Here, a metasurface zone plate in which rings are composed of subwavelength antenna arrays is proposed to individually control amplitude, phase and polarization by the consistent material platform of metasurfaces. Hence, versatile degrees of freedom can be achieved to focus electromagnetic waves. We verify that dielectric metasurfaces can generate arbitrary poloarization states to cover the whole Poincaré sphere in the visible regime, allowing light manipulation in the vectorial regime, which is not feasible by a conventional single liquid crystal film. Experimental demonstration of a polarization-modulated metasurface zone plate confirms the functional capability of dielectric metasurfaces exhibiting higher focusing efficiency than amplitude-modulated zone plates.
A sensitive and rapid “off–on” fluorescent probe for the detection of esterase and its application in evaluating cell status and discrimination of living cells and dead cells
Authors: Mao Yueyuan , Ma Mengmeng , Wei Peng , Zhang Ping , Liu Lei , Guan Tingting , Zhang Xueji , Yi Tao
Published: December 2019

The esterase-responsive probe EP shows high sensitivity and low LOD, and can monitor the esterase activity in cells and evaluate the cell health status.
A pro-gastrin-releasing peptide imprinted photoelectrochemical sensor based on the in situ growth of gold nanoparticles on a MoS2 nanosheet surface
Authors: Wang Xing , Deng Hongping , Wang Chen , Wei Qiuxi , Wang Yanying , Xiong Xiaoxing , Li Chunya , Li Wenwen
Published: December 2019

Molecularly imprinted PEC platform for Pro-GRP sensing was prepared using lamellar MoS2 nanosheets assembled with gold nanoparticles as photoactive elements. The molecularly imprinted PEC sensor shows excellent sensing performances towards Pro-GRP.
Bioaccumulation investigation of bisphenol A in HepG2 cells and zebrafishes enabled by cobalt magnetic polystyrene microsphere derived carbon based magnetic solid-phase extraction
Authors: Niu Panhong , Lu Xiaofeng , Liu Bingtao , Li Yijing , Liang Xiaojing , Wang Shuai , Guo Yong
Published: December 2019

Cobalt magnetic polystyrene microsphere derived carbon (C–Co@PST) with a core–shell structure was employed to investigate the bioaccumulation of bisphenol A (BPA) in HepG2 cells and zebrafishes based on a magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) method.
Regioselective C–H amination of free base porphyrins via electrogenerated pyridinium-porphyrins and stabilization of easily oxidized amino-porphyrins by protonation
Authors: Bousfiha Asmae , Dimé Abdou K. D. , Mankou-Makaya Amelle , Echaubard Julie , Berthelot Mathieu , Cattey Hélène , Romieu Anthony , Roger Julien , Devillers Charles H.
Published: December 2019

Four free base aminoporphyrins were synthesized in two steps via regioselective anodic nucleophilic substitution with pyridine followed by ring opening of the electrogenerated pyridinium with piperidine.
Exploiting structure–activity relationships of QS-21 in the design and synthesis of streamlined saponin vaccine adjuvants
Authors: Ghirardello Mattia , Ruiz-de-Angulo Ane , Sacristan Nagore , Barriales Diego , Jiménez-Barbero Jesús , Poveda Ana , Corzana Francisco , Anguita Juan , Fernández-Tejada Alberto
Published: December 2019

This work provides new streamlined saponin vaccine adjuvants and molecular-level insights into saponin conformation that correlate with potent adjuvant activity.
Copper-catalyzed stereoselective alkylhydrazination of alkynes
Authors: Lei Jian , Gao Huaxin , Huang Miaoling , Liu Xiao , Mao Yangfan , Xie Xiaolan
Published: December 2019

An efficient copper-catalyzed stereoselective alkylhydrazination of alkynes, leading to tri-substituted (E)-alkenylhydrazines, has been developed.
Supramolecular polymer networks based on pillar[5]arene: synthesis, characterization and application in the Fenton reaction
Authors: Zhang Runmiao , Yan Xin , Guo Hao , Hu Lanping , Yan Chaoguo , Wang Yang , Yao Yong
Published: December 2019

New supramolecular networks with ferrocene units were efficiently constructed via orthogonal pillar[5]arene-based host–guest and H-bonding interaction. It can be applied in Fenton-like reaction in water.
Aligned ZnO nanorod@Ni–Co layered double hydroxide composite nanosheet arrays with a core–shell structure as high-performance supercapacitor electrode materials
Authors: Liu Xiaojuan , Liu Hao , Sun Xinzhi
Published: December 2019

Electrode materials are important components of supercapacitors and have a significant influence on the electrochemical properties.
The effect of crystallinity on the surface modification and optical properties of ZnO thin films
Authors: Purbayanto Muhammad Abiyyu Kenichi , Rusydi Andrivo , Darma Yudi
Published: December 2019

The crystallinity of starting materials has a vital role in determining the structure modification and optical properties of ZnO films after H2 annealing.
Organic photodiodes and phototransistors toward infrared detection: materials, devices, and applications
Authors: Wang Cong , Zhang Xiaotao , Hu Wenping
Published: December 2019

Active layer engineering, device construction, and integrated applications for infrared organic photodiodes and phototransistors are discussed in this tutorial.
Reduction-induced CO dissociation by a [Mn(bpy)(CO)4][SbF6] complex and its relevance in electrocatalytic CO2reduction
Authors: Kuo Hsin-Ya , Tignor Steven E. , Lee Tia S. , Ni Danrui , Park James Eujin , Scholes Gregory D. , Bocarsly Andrew B.
Published: December 2019

[Mn(bpy)(CO)4] is isolated, characterized, and demonstrated to be an on-cycle catalytic intermediate in the [MnX(bpy)(CO)3]-catalyzed electroreduction of CO2to CO.
Indoor-light-energy-harvesting dye-sensitized photo-rechargeable battery
Authors: Kim Byung-Man , Lee Myeong-Hee , Dilimon Vijayan Sobhana , Kim Jeong Soo , Nam Jung Seung , Cho Yoon-Gyo , Noh Hyun Kuk , Roh Deok-Ho , Kwon Tae-Hyuk , Song Hyun-Kon
Published: December 2019

Dye-sensitized photo-rechargeable battery (DSPB) harvests and stores dim light efficiently, realizing indoor-light-harvesting battery to operate IoT devices successfully without sun light.
Efficient removal of metal ions by capacitive deionization with straw waste derived graphitic porous carbon nanosheets
Authors: Wang Hui , Yan Tingting , Shen Junjie , Zhang Jianping , Shi Liyi , Zhang Dengsong
Published: December 2019

Graphitic porous carbon nanosheets derived from straw waste were developed for capacitive deionization.
Bulk ion-clustering and surface ion-layering effects on work function of self-compensated charged-doped polymer semiconductors
Authors: Ang Mervin Chun-Yi , Tang Cindy Guanyu , Koh Qi-Mian , Zhao Chao , Seah Qiu-Jing , Wang Yu , Callsen Martin , Feng Yuan-Ping , Png Rui-Qi , Chua Lay-Lay
Published: December 2019

Self-compensated hole- and electron-doped polyelectrolytes can afford 0.1 eV tuning steps in work function of charge injection/collection layers through the tethered anions. These material systems are further immune to ‘dopant’ migration.
Simultaneous detection of paracetamol and 4-aminophenol at nanomolar levels using biocompatible cysteine-substituted phthalocyanine
Authors: Palanna Manjunatha , Mohammed Imadadulla , Aralekallu Shambhulinga , Nemakal Manjunatha , Sannegowda Lokesh Koodlur
Published: December 2019

Extension of the conjugation and biocompatibility of the phthalocyanine molecule is expected to improve its stability and interaction with bio-molecules without any fouling.
A luminescent MOF as a fluorescent sensor for the sequential detection of Al3+ and phenylpyruvic acid
Authors: Wang Qian , Du Xiao-Meng , Zhao Bo , Pang Meili , Li Yue , Ruan Wen-Juan
Published: December 2019

A hydroxyl-functionalized MOF was used to construct an “off–on–off” platform for the sequential fluorescence detection of Al3+ and phenylpyruvic acid.
Synthetic strategies to access staphylococcus auto-inducing peptides as quorum sensing modulators
Authors: Gordon Christopher P.
Published: December 2019

The accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum-sensing system is arguably the most important regulator of staphylococcus virulence and has been the focus of tremendous interest in the development of effective therapies for pathogenic bacterial infections.
Multi-state amine sensing by electron transfers in a BODIPY probe
Authors: VanDenburgh Katherine L. , Liu Yun , Sadhukhan Tumpa , Benson Christopher R. , Cox Natalie M. , Erbas-Cakmak Sundus , Qiao Bo , Gao Xinfeng , Pink Maren , Raghavachari Krishnan , Flood Amar H.
Published: December 2019

Photoinduced electron transfer sets up the BODIPY probe for multi-state amine sensing by single-electron transfer then collisional quenching.
Formation of nematic order in 3D systems of hard colloidal ellipsoids
Authors: Roller Jörg , Geiger John David , Voggenreiter Markus , Meijer Janne-Mieke , Zumbusch Andreas
Published: December 2019

Particle resolved measurements of the phase behavior of hard colloidal ellipsoids with aspect ratios from 2 to 7 reveal that for intermediate aspect ratios the predicted nematic phase is absent and instead nematic precursors and domains are formed.
Pick up and release of micro-objects: a motion-free method to change the conformity of a capillary contact
Authors: Iazzolino Antonio , Tourtit Youness , Chafaï Adam , Gilet Tristan , Lambert Pierre , Tadrist Loïc
Published: December 2019

We propose a new 3D-printed capillary gripper equipped with a textured surface for motion-free release of micro-objects. The release process can be controlled by IR laser. We also discuss the minimal conditions for release.
Comparison of computational methods for the electrochemical stability window of solid-state electrolyte materials
Authors: Binninger Tobias , Marcolongo Aris , Mottet Matthieu , Weber Valéry , Laino Teodoro
Published: December 2019

Analysis and comparison of different methods to compute electrochemical stability of solid-state electrolytes reveals their inter-relation and applicability.
Approaching the Shockley–Queisser limit for fill factors in lead–tin mixed perovskite photovoltaics
Authors: Jayawardena K. D. G. I. , Bandara R. M. I. , Monti M. , Butler-Caddle E. , Pichler T. , Shiozawa H. , Wang Z. , Jenatsch S. , Hinder S. J. , Masteghin M. G. , Patel M. , Thirimanne H. M. , Zhang W. , Sporea R. A. , Lloyd-Hughes J. , Silva S. R. P.
Published: December 2019

A new post-treatment method for lead–tin mixed perovskites enabling device fill factors approaching 83%.
Cunning defects: emission control by structural point defects on Cu(i)I double chain coordination polymers
Authors: Conesa-Egea Javier , González-Platas Javier , Rodríguez-Mendoza Ulises R. , Martínez José Ignacio , Pilar Ocon , Fernández-Moreira Vanesa , Costa Rubén D. , Fernández-Cestau Julio , Zamora Félix , Amo-Ochoa Pilar
Published: December 2019

We present two new coordination polymers based on double Cu(i)–I chains, with identical structure. Variations in the synthesis conditions lead to the formation of defects which strongly affect the optical properties of these compounds.
Structural mechanism of DNA-end synapsis in the non-homologous end joining pathway for repairing double-strand breaks: bridge over troubled ends
Authors: Wu Qian
Published: December 2019

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is a major repair pathway for DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which is the most toxic DNA damage in cells. Unrepaired DSBs can cause genome instability, tumorigenesis or cell death. DNA end synapsis is the first and probably the most important step of the NHEJ pathway, aiming to bring two broken DNA ends close together and provide structural stability for end processing and ligation. This process is mediated through a group of NHEJ proteins forming higher-order complexes, to recognise and bridge two DNA ends. Spatial and temporal understanding of the structural mechanism of DNA-end synapsis has been largely advanced through recent structural and single-molecule studies of NHEJ proteins. This review focuses on core NHEJ proteins that mediate DNA end synapsis through their unique structures and interaction properties, as well as how they play roles as anchor and linker proteins during the process of ‘bridge over troubled ends'.
Modulation recognition with pre‐denoising convolutional neural network
Authors: Liu Yabo , Liu Yi
Published: December 2019

Modulation recognition (MR) is an important technology in modern communication systems. Traditional MR methods can be categorised as the maximum likelihood hypothesis, pattern recognition, and deep learning‐based methods. The authors can achieve high‐recognition accuracy when the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) is high. However, their recognition accuracy is greatly reduced when the SNR is low, especially when the SNR is below 0 dB. In order to improve the MR accuracy at low SNRs, they propose a pre‐denoising algorithm, which is used before MR methods. The model of the pre‐denoising algorithm is a fully convolutional neural network, which is similar to an auto‐encoder. They also use residual learning to speed up the training process. Experimental results show that the proposed pre‐denoising algorithm can significantly enhance the SNRs of modulated signals and improve the accuracy of MR methods.
Fault tolerance enhancement of the PV module system by improving the topology and control strategy
Authors: Zhang Yong , Lv Zeyan , Yu Miao , Tang Jiacheng , Wei Wei
Published: December 2019

Photovoltaic (PV) stations are easily affected by the partial shading, short‐circuit fault and grounding fault, which will reduce the power generation and degrade the system stability. Instead of separating the fault location based on complex fault detection algorithms, this study has proposed an improved topology and control strategy to address the abovementioned issues. Specifically, the buck–boost converter is applied in each PV module, and the two‐stage dc/dc/ac control is replaced by the single dc/ac control, which can effectively avoid the influences of the partial shading and the short‐circuit faults in the single or multiple PV modules. Meanwhile, to further tackle the problem of grounding fault, the small‐signal model is constructed to analyse the influence of the grounding resistance on the system stability, and the mechanism of the undesired dc voltage component and harmonic voltage component are revealed. Then a zero‐axis proportional resonant control is further added. Finally, the experiments in different conditions are carried out based on the RT‐LAB platform. The results have demonstrated that the proposed improved topology and control strategy can enhance the fault tolerance of the system and guarantee the system stability in the presence of partial shading, short‐circuit fault and grounding fault.
Technologies for future wavelength division multiplexing passive optical networks
Authors: El-Nahal Fady , Hanik Norbert
Published: December 2019

This study reviews key technologies of next generation wavelength division multiplexing passive optical networks (WDM‐PONs). The authors have studied WDM‐PONs with centralised lightwave source and direct detection, where a wavelength‐reuse system is employed to transmit the uplink data by using a colourless transmitter at the optical network unit (ONU). WDM‐PON system was demonstrated using a Fabry–Perot laser diode as a colourless transmitter at the ONU for differential phase‐shift keying (DPSK) downlink signals and on–off keying uplink signals. The constant‐amplitude feature of the DPSK modulation could retain a great extinction ratio of the downlink signal and decrease the noise to the uplink signal. The proposed scheme offers a promising solution for future PONs.