bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sensitive, general and portable detection of RNAs combining duplex-specific nuclease transduction with an off-shelf signalling platform
Authors: Guo Lulu , Li Huan , Zhao Rujian , Tang Yidan , Li Bingling
Published: April 2021

We report a novel RNA sensing platform by combining the RNA:DNA hybridization, duplex-specific nuclease (DSN) amplification, and personal glucose meter (PGM) readout.
Synthesis of 15N-labeled heterocycles via the cleavage of C–N bonds of anilines and glycine-15N
Authors: He Jiwen , Zhang Xingguo , He Qiuqin , Guo Hao , Fan Renhua
Published: April 2021

A nitrogen replacement process of anilines by glycine-15N via the cleavage of two C–N bonds for the synthesis of 15N-labeled aromatic heterocycles was reported.
Mulberry-like BiVO4 architectures: synthesis, characterization and their application in photocatalysis
Authors: Wei Jiangang , Wang Xiaoyu , Li Wenqin , Li Yihuai , Zhu Xiangrong , Zhu LuPing
Published: April 2021

Mulberry-like BiVO4 architectures were prepared by a facile solvothermal route. The obtained architectures showed enhanced light absorption, high photocatalytic properties, good stability and reusability.
Facile formation of Fe-doped NiCoP hollow nanocages as bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting
Authors: He Bin , Peng Chun-Qing , Ye Feng , Gao Hai-Wen , Wang Yang , Tang Ya-Wen , Hao Qing-Li , Liu Hong-Ke , Su Zhi
Published: April 2021

Rational design of electrocatalysts with unique morphological structures and chemical compositions is crucial for electrochemical performance and energy storage capacity.
Evaluation of nine condensed-phase force fields of the GROMOS, CHARMM, OPLS, AMBER, and OpenFF families against experimental cross-solvation free energies
Authors: Kashefolgheta Sadra , Wang Shuzhe , Acree William E. , Hünenberger Philippe H.
Published: April 2021

Nine force fields are compared in their abilities to reproduce the experimental cross-solvation matrix of 25 molecules.
Formic acid dehydrogenation over PdNi alloys supported on N-doped carbon: synergistic effect of Pd–Ni alloying on hydrogen release
Authors: Tamarany Rizcky , Shin Dong Yun , Kang Sukho , Jeong Hyangsoo , Kim Joohoon , Kim Jun , Yoon Chang Won , Lim Dong-Hee
Published: April 2021

Among the various Pd1Nix alloys (x = 0.33, 1 and 3) supported on nitrogen-doped carbon, Pd1Ni1/N–C has the highest activity for formic acid (HCO2H, FA) dehydrogenation as a result of synergistic interactions between Pd and Ni atoms.
Spectroscopic characterization of a thermodynamically stable doubly charged diatomic molecule: MgAr2+
Authors: Wehrli Dominik , Génévriez Matthieu , Merkt Frédéric
Published: April 2021

We present a new method to study doubly charged molecules relying on high-resolution spectroscopy of the singly charged parent cation, and report on the first spectroscopic characterization of a thermodynamically stable diatomic dication, MgAr2+.
An experimental investigation of light emission produced in the process of positronium formation in matter
Authors: Pietrow M. , Zaleski R. , Wagner A. , Słomski P. , Hirschmann E. , Krause-Rehberg R. , Liedke M. O. , Butterling M. , Weinberger D.
Published: April 2021

The excess energy emitted as light, which may carry spectroscopic information during the positronium formation in condensed matter, is examined experimentally using alkanes and porous silica.
SERS characterization of dopamine and in situ dopamine polymerization on silver nanoparticles
Authors: Badillo-Ramírez Isidro , Saniger José M. , Popp Jürgen , Cialla-May Dana
Published: April 2021

Physicochemical SERS study of DA adsorption and its in situ polymerization forming PDA on silver nanoparticles under laser light excitation.
Dynamics of single hydrogen bubbles at Pt microelectrodes in microgravity
Authors: Bashkatov Aleksandr , Yang Xuegeng , Mutschke Gerd , Fritzsche Barbara , Hossain Syed Sahil , Eckert Kerstin
Published: April 2021

The evolution of single hydrogen bubbles at Pt microelectrodes was studied during parabolic flights. The residual gravitational acceleration causes lateral bubble motion which is delayed by coalescence events with smaller bubbles.
Improved slit-shaped microseparator and its integration with a microreactor for modular biomanufacturing
Authors: Bhattacharyya Souryadeep , Desir Pierre , Prodinger Sebastian , Lobo Raul F. , Vlachos Dionisios G.
Published: April 2021

Pictures of microseparator parts and integrated microreactor and microseparator to produce high purity streams containing platform biomass-derived chemicals.
Phosphorus-doped carbon nitride with grafted sulfonic acid groups for efficient photocatalytic synthesis of xylonic acid
Authors: Ma Jiliang , Jin Dongnv , Yang Xiaopan , Sun Shaolong , Zhou Jinghui , Sun Runcang
Published: April 2021

The photocatalytic selective oxidation of biomass-derived feedstocks to high-value organic acids is promising and challenging, especially for the production of xylonic acid.
Cell-sorting centrifugal microfluidic chip with a flow rectifier
Authors: Ma Junyu , Wu Yihui , Liu Yongshun , Ji Yuan , Yang Mei , Zhu Hongquan
Published: April 2021

We propose herein a centrifugal microfluidic chip with a flow rectifier that transforms the centrifugal non-steady flow into locally steady flow with continuous flow for size-based cell sorting.
Facile synthesis, characterization, mechanism and enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of SiW12/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites
Authors: Yu Haihui , Wei Bing , Wang Junping , Zhao Haiqi , Zeng Sai , Xue Chaobo , Zhu Jiayu , Zhang Yanlin , Xu Peng
Published: April 2021

The photocatalytic mechanism of the SiW12/α-Fe2O3 nanohybrid.
Total synthesis of cynaropicrin
Authors: Nakamura Tenma , Pitna Dinda B. , Kimura Kogaku , Yoshimoto Yukiko , Uchiyama Tomoya , Mori Takaya , Kondo Ryosuke , Hara Shihori , Egoshi Yuki , Yamaguchi Shoya , Suzuki Noriyuki , Suzuki Yumiko , Usuki Toyonobu
Published: April 2021

The first total synthesis of the sesquiterpene lactone cynaropicrin, isolated from artichoke, was achieved starting from (S)-α-pinene. The synthesis involved a stereoselective Favorskii rearrangement and a diastereoselective Barbier reaction.
Bioactive natural products from marine sponges belonging to family Hymedesmiidae
Authors: Elgoud Said Asmaa Abo , Mahmoud Basma Khalaf , Attia Eman Zekry , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan , Fouad Mostafa Ahmed
Published: April 2021

Natural products of marine origin exhibit extensive biological activities, and display a vital role in the exploration of new compounds for drug development.
Electronic and optical properties of silicene on GaAs(111) with hydrogen intercalation: a first-principles study
Authors: Yu Ting , Zhang He , Li Dan , Lu Yanwu
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we investigated the electronic and optical properties of silicene on GaAs(111) substrates (silicene/HGaAs) on the basis of first-principles density functional theory.
Binder-free and high-loading sulfurized polyacrylonitrile cathode for lithium/sulfur batteries
Authors: Kim Huihun , Kim Changhyeon , Sadan Milan K. , Yeo Hyewon , Cho Kwon-Koo , Kim Ki-Won , Ahn Jou-Hyeon , Ahn Hyo-Jun
Published: April 2021

A simple synthesis procedure to prepare bulk-type SPAN electrodes toward the realization of Li/S batteries with enhanced practical energy densities.
A review on g-C3N4incorporated with organics for enhanced photocatalytic water splitting
Authors: Liang Jinnan , Yang Xiaohong , Wang Yan , He Peng , Fu Haitao , Zhao Yue , Zou Qingchuan , An Xizhong
Published: April 2021

g-C3N4incorporated with organics for enhanced photocatalytic water splitting.
11.5% efficient Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cell fabricated from DMF molecular solution
Authors: Niu Chuanyou , Gong Yuancai , Qiu Ruichan , Zhu Qiang , Zhou Yage , Hao Shasha , Yan Weibo , Huang Wei , Xin Hao
Published: April 2021

The weak Sn–O coordination bonds in Sn(DMF)2Cl4 result in the formation of a kesterite phased (Cu2ZnSnS4) precursor film and thus fabrication of a highly efficient Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 absorber from DMF solution.
Non-equilibrium insertion of lithium ions into graphite
Authors: Li Na , Sun Ming-Zi , Hwang Sooyeon , Li Shuang , Zhao Hong-Yang , Du Ya-Ping , Huang Bo-Long , Su Dong
Published: April 2021

Atomic-level in situ exploration unravels a non-equilibrium process on the insertion of lithium ions into graphite. This finding reports a non-equilibrium scenario different from classic Rüdorff–Hofmann (R–H) and Daumas–Hérold (D–H) models.
Highly fluorescent nitrogen and boron doped carbon quantum dots for selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+
Authors: Zhang Yunhao , Qin Hongxin , Huang Yuting , Zhang Feng , Liu Hairong , Liu Hongbo , Wang Zi Jun , Li Run
Published: April 2021

Nitrogen and boron co-doped carbon dots with a core–shell structure for selective and sensitive Fe3+ detection.
A tough, adhesive, self-healable, and antibacterial plant-inspired hydrogel based on pyrogallol–borax dynamic cross-linking
Authors: Ma Chao , Pang Huiwen , Liu Hongguang , Yan Qian , Li Jianzhang , Zhang Shifeng
Published: April 2021

Dynamic cross-linking properties of borates and pyrogallol have been utilized to obtain multifunctional hydrogels by integrating adhesiveness, high mechanical strength, self-healing, and antibacterial properties into one system.
Spontaneous electric polarization and electric field gradient in hybrid improper ferroelectrics: insights and correlations
Authors: Santos Samuel S. M. , Marcondes Michel L. , Miranda Ivan P. , Rocha-Rodrigues Pedro , Assali Lucy V. C. , Lopes Armandina M. L. , Petrilli Helena M. , Araujo Joao P.
Published: April 2021

Ab initio study on correlation of electric polarization and electric field gradient in hybrid improper ferroelectrics based on Ruddlesden–Popper phases and double perovskite structures.
A series of counter cation-dependent tetra β-diketonate mononuclear lanthanide(iii) single-molecule magnets and immobilization on pre-functionalised GaN substrates by anion exchange reaction
Authors: Zhuo-Wu  , Tian Yong-Mei , Chen Peng , Sun Wen-Bin , Wang Bing-Wu , Gao Song
Published: April 2021

Series of tetrakis β-diketonate mononuclear Ln-based SMMs pairing with organic counter ammonium cations were structurally and magnetically characterized, which is further anchored on the functional GaN substrate successfully.
Hosts and triggers of AGNs in the Local Universe
Authors: Zhang Ziwen , Wang Huiyuan , Luo Wentao , Mo H. J. , Liang Zhixiong , Li Ran , Yang Xiaohu , Wang Tinggui , Zhang Hongxin , Hong Hui , Wang Xiaoyu , Wang Enci , Li Pengfei , Shi JingJing
Published: April 2021

Based on the spectroscopic and shear catalogs for SDSS galaxies in the local Universe, we compared optically selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with control star-forming and quiescent galaxies on galactic and inter-halo scales, and larger. We find that AGNs are preferentially found in two specific stages of galaxy evolution: in the starburst and ‘green valley’ phases. We also find that the stellar population of their host galaxies is quite independent of stellar mass, which is not the case for more typical galaxies. Combining galaxy-galaxy lensing and galaxy clustering on large scales, we measured the mass of AGN host halos. The typical halo mass is about 1012 h−1 M⊙, similar to the characteristic mass in the stellar mass-halo mass relation (SHMR). For a given stellar mass, AGN host galaxies and star-forming galaxies share the same SHMR, while quiescent galaxies have more massive halos. Clustering analyses on halo scales reveals that AGNs are surrounded by a larger number of satellites (with stellar mass down to 1/1000 of the mass of the central galaxy) than star-forming galaxies and that galaxies with a greater stellar velocity dispersion have a greater number of satellites. The number of satellites also increase with halo mass, reaching unity around 1012 h−1 M⊙. Our results suggest a scenario in which the interaction of the central galaxy with the satellites triggers an early episode of starburst and AGN activity, followed by multiple AGN cycles driven by the non-axisymmetric structure produced by the interaction. The feedback from the starburst and AGN reduces the amount of cold gas for fueling the central black hole, producing a characteristic halo mass scale, that is, ∼1012 h−1 M⊙, where the AGN fraction peaks.
Le prix Nobel de physique 2020, ou la consécration des trous noirs
Authors: Deruelle Nathalie , Lasota Jean-Pierre
Published: April 2021

Trois lauréats partagent le prix Nobel de physique 2020 pour leurs découvertes sur l’un des phénomènes les plus exotiques de l’Univers, les trous noirs : le théoricien britannique Roger Penrose, l’astronome allemand Gerhard Genzel et l’astronome américaine Andrea Ghez.
Reflets de la Physique : résultats de l’enquête de lectorat
Authors: Verguin Mayline
Published: April 2021

Une enquête de satisfaction a été lancée auprès des lecteurs de la revue entre le 30 juillet et le 25 septembre 2020. Nous faisons ci-dessous le point sur ses principaux résultats.
Green product diffusion: The impacts of asymmetric retailers’ strategic product decisions
Authors: Zhu Xiaoxi , Wu Guangdong
Published: April 2021

With the continuous deterioration of the environment and the improvement of consumer green awareness, more and more producers began to launch green products. For example, many automobile companies began to produce new energy vehicles. However, whether a new product can be successfully introduced to the market depends not only on the product’s quality improvement, but also on its sales channels. In this paper, we model a supply chain composed of a manufacturer and two asymmetric retailers to analyze how the retailers’ strategic decisions affect the introduction of a newer green product. Backward induction is adopted to survey the dynamic decisions of the supply chain members. Given the leading retailer’s product choice, the follower-up retailer’s product choices and decision optimums are defined by specific thresholds of consumer green valuation and production costs. Results show that the follower-up retailer would make completely different responses within a same threshold range when the leading retailer takes different product decisions. In other words, even if the leading retailer chooses green new products, the follower will not necessarily imitate the choice of green products, and it could be more advantageous to choose the old generation products (for price competition). Furthermore, results show that green product introduction does not necessarily bring Pareto improvement to both the two retailers. Finally, we derive the specific intervals in which green products can be successfully introduced into the market. Our modelling work and results provide instructive managerial insights on green product introduction in a retailer led supply chain.
Slowing Down Myopia Progression with Contact Lenses – Everyday Cases from the Clinic
Authors: Ribeiro Reis Ana Paula , Palmowski-Wolfe Anja , Beuschel Ralf
Published: April 2021

Background An estimated 49.8% of the world population will be myopic by 2050. Multifocal contact lenses (MFCLs) and orthokeratology (OK) reduce peripheral retinal hyperopic defocus, which animal studies have shown to positively impact eye growth. MFCLs are expected to slow myopic progression by 20 – 50% and OK by 30 – 60%, making them valuable therapeutic tools. In view of the guidelines for myopia management published by the International Myopia Institute in 2019, the aim of this retrospective data analysis of a tertiary care center was to review past experience with OK and MFCLs for myopia control and gain information to update current practice.

Patients and Methods The contact lens (CL) database of the Eye Clinic of the University Hospital of Basel was searched with the label “myopia progression” between January 2012 – 2020. Patients were included if they gave informed consent, were younger than 19 years old at baseline, and had no ocular comorbidities that could potentially compromise vision. Primary outcomes were progression of spherical equivalent refraction for MFCL patients and progression of axial length (AL) for the OK group, comparing with historical data from OK trials. Secondary outcomes were the presence of risk factors for myopia, age, refractive error at baseline, follow-up duration, and adverse effects during therapy.

Results Twenty-one patients could be included, with a mean age of 12.80 ± 3.32 years (y) at baseline. The majority of patients were older than 12 years and already myopic (− 3.89 ± 2.30 diopters) when control treatment was started. Overall, follow-up ranged from 0.08 to 6.33 years (2.03 ± 1.66 y). In the patients treated with MFCLs, myopia control improved significantly when patients changed from spectacles to MFCLs. In the OK group, 14% dropped out during the first year and 2 patients had multiple AL measurements during therapy, which showed a slower growth of AL when compared to other OK trials and controls with spectacles. There were two cases of non-severe keratitis. Environmental risk factors had not been documented and only 48% of clinical records had a documented family risk assessment.

Conclusion Patients showed a slower myopia progression under MFCLs or OK, which supports their role as a treatment option in myopia management. In this regard, AL measurement is an important additional parameter to be included in the assessment of myopia progression in clinical practice. Identification of children at risk of developing high/pathologic myopia (family history, environmental risk factors) needs to improve so that the first stages of myopic shift can be recognized and targeted. Changes in lifestyle should be actively encouraged, especially when the impact of decreases in outdoor time secondary to COVID-19 is yet to become clear.
Benigne und maligne Bindehauttumoren in Diagnostik und Therapie
Authors: Westekemper Henrike , Manthey Anke , Bechrakis Nikolaos
Published: April 2021

Bindehauttumoren betreffen in Diagnostik und Therapie alle Bereiche der augenärztlichen Praxis. Das beginnt mit der klinischen Kontrolle von Bindehautnävi und anderen benignen Tumoren, der Einschätzung von entzündlichen Pseudotumoren und ihrer Abgrenzung zu Präkanzerosen oder vernarbenden Erkrankungen und mündet in der hochspezialisierten und interdisziplinären Führung onkologischer Patienten mit Lymphomen, hochmalignen Melanomen oder invasiven Plattenepithelkarzinomen.
Esophageal stenting for benign and malignant disease: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline – Update 2021
Authors: Spaander Manon C. W. , van der Bogt Ruben D. , Baron Todd H. , Albers David , Blero Daniel , de Ceglie Antonella , Conio Massimo , Czakó László , Everett Simon , Garcia-Pagán Juan-Carlos , Ginès Angels , Jovani Manol , Repici Alessandro , Rodrigues-Pinto Eduardo , Siersema Peter D. , Fuccio Lorenzo , van Hooft Jeanin E.
Published: April 2021

Main recommendations

Malignant disease

1 ESGE recommends placement of partially or fully covered self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) for palliation of malignant dysphagia over laser therapy, photodynamic therapy, and esophageal bypass.

Strong recommendation, high quality evidence.

2 ESGE recommends brachytherapy as a valid alternative, alone or in addition to stenting, in esophageal cancer patients with malignant dysphagia and expected longer life expectancy.

Strong recommendation, high quality evidence.

3 ESGE recommends esophageal SEMS placement for sealing malignant tracheoesophageal or bronchoesophageal fistulas.

Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.

4 ESGE does not recommend SEMS placement as a bridge to surgery or before preoperative chemoradiotherapy because it is associated with a high incidence of adverse events. Other options such as feeding tube placement are preferable.

Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.

Benign disease

5 ESGE recommends against the use of SEMSs as first-line therapy for the management of benign esophageal strictures because of the potential for adverse events, the availability of alternative therapies, and their cost.

Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.

6 ESGE suggests consideration of temporary placement of self-expandable stents for refractory benign esophageal strictures.

Weak recommendation, moderate quality evidence.

7 ESGE suggests that fully covered SEMSs be preferred over partially covered SEMSs for the treatment of refractory benign esophageal strictures because of their very low risk of embedment and ease of removability.

Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.

8 ESGE recommends the stent-in-stent technique to remove partially covered SEMSs that are embedded in the esophageal wall.

Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.

9 ESGE recommends that temporary stent placement can be considered for the treatment of leaks, fistulas, and perforations. No specific type of stent can be recommended, and the duration of stenting should be individualized.

Strong recommendation, low quality of evidence.

10 ESGE recommends considering placement of a fully covered large-diameter SEMS for the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding refractory to medical, endoscopic, and/or radiological therapy, or as initial therapy for patients with massive bleeding.

Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence.
Codex-Projekt: Uniklinika bieten eigenes Covid-19-Dashboard
Authors: Doelfs Guntram
Published: April 2021

Das Universitätsklinikum Bonn (UKB) hat für sich und weitere Universitätsklinika ein Covid-19-Dashboard entwickelt, das nahezu in Echtzeit Einblick in die aktuelle Corona-Lage auf den Stationen ermöglicht. Das Dashboard wird vom Bundesforschungsministerium (BMBF) im Rahmen des „CODEX“-Projektes gefördert. Zehn Häuser sind bereits dabei, weitere sollen folgen.
Klinik Unternehmen: Auf-/Absteiger des Monats
Authors: Schmidt Hartmut
Published: April 2021

Börsenexperte Hartmut Schmidt analysiert für kma die Jahresabschlüsse ausgewählter Kliniken
Selbstverwaltung: Es ist kompliziert
Authors: Kohrs Jens
Published: April 2021

Sie scheinen in Deutschland unter keinem guten Stern zu stehen: Während Pflegekammern international in vielen Ländern üblich und etabliert sind, sorgen sie hierzulande schon seit Jahren für handfesten Zwist zwischen Pflege, Gewerkschaften, Arbeitgebern und der Politik. Zu allem Überfluss weiß die Profession selbst nicht immer, was sie will. Doch ohne Sprachrohr gehört zu werden – egal ob berufsständisch oder gewerkschaftlich – ist in jedem Fall schwierig.
Pflegepersonal-Stärkungsgesetz: P wie Pflege, Pflegebudget oder Pflexit
Authors: Nickel Marc
Published: April 2021

Nach Auffassung des Bundesgesundheitsministeriums sollen mit dem Pflegepersonal-Stärkungsgesetz „spürbare Verbesserungen im Alltag der Pflegekräfte durch eine bessere Personalausstattung undbessere Arbeitsbedingungen in der Kranken- und Altenpflege erreicht werden“. Die Praxis am Beispiel der Rems-Murr-Kliniken zeigt, dass das Gegenteil der Fall ist.
Seltene Erkrankungen: Neue Wege zur Diagnose
Authors: Hohnstein Aileen
Published: April 2021

Viele Untersuchungen, wechselnde Ärztinnen und Ärzte, lange Wartezeiten und trotzdem oft keine Diagnose – die Versorgungsrealitätfür Menschen mit seltenen Erkrankungen ist meist keine einfache. Das soll anders werden. Derzeit tut sich in Deutschland viel, mehrere Projekte haben die bessere Versorgung von Patientinnen und Patienten im Blick.
Rubisco proton production can drive the elevation of CO
2
within condensates and carboxysomes
Authors: Long Benedict M. , Förster Britta , Pulsford Sacha B. , Price G. Dean , Badger Murray R.
Published: April 2021

Significance

Rubisco is arguably the most abundant protein on Earth, and its catalytic action is responsible for the bulk of organic carbon in the biosphere. Its function has been the focus of study for many decades, but recent discoveries highlight that in a broad array of organisms, it undergoes liquid–liquid phase separation to form membraneless organelles, known as pyrenoids and carboxysomes, that enhance CO
2
acquisition. We assess the benefit of these condensate compartments to Rubisco function using a mathematical model. Our model shows that proton production via Rubisco reactions, and those carried by protonated reaction species, can enable the elevation of condensate CO
2
to enhance carboxylation. Application of this theory provides insights into pyrenoid and carboxysome evolution.
Integration drives rapid phenotypic evolution in flatfishes
Authors: Evans Kory M. , Larouche Olivier , Watson Sara-Jane , Farina Stacy , Habegger María Laura , Friedman Matt
Published: April 2021

Significance

Evolutionary innovations change how organisms interact with their environments. Trait modularization is thought to facilitate evolutionary innovation, while integration constrains diversification patterns. Cranial asymmetry in flatfishes was an innovation that allowed them to colonize, and dominate benthic aquatic habitats. In this study, we quantify rates of skull shape evolution, and integration across 102 species of flatfishes and their relatives and test for the effect of integration on rates of morphological diversification. We find that cranial asymmetry evolution was a rapid, integrated process. We additionally find that flatfishes are significantly more evolutionarily integrated than their relatives. These results suggest that trait integration plays a key role in the evolution of innovation by allowing traits to mount synchronous responses to selective pressures.
Planar cell polarity induces local microtubule bundling for coordinated ciliary beating
Authors: Nakayama Shogo , Yano Tomoki , Namba Toshinori , Konishi Satoshi , Takagishi Maki , Herawati Elisa , Nishida Tomoki , Imoto Yasuo , Ishihara Shuji , Takahashi Masahide , Furuta Ken’ya , Oiwa Kazuhiro , Tamura Atsushi , Tsukita Sachiko
Published: April 2021

Multiciliated cells (MCCs) in tracheas generate mucociliary clearance through coordinated ciliary beating. Apical microtubules (MTs) play a crucial role in this process by organizing the planar cell polarity (PCP)–dependent orientation of ciliary basal bodies (BBs), for which the underlying molecular basis remains elusive. Herein, we found that the deficiency of Daple, a dishevelled-associating protein, in tracheal MCCs impaired the planar polarized apical MTs without affecting the core PCP proteins, causing significant defects in the BB orientation at the cell level but not the tissue level. Using live-cell imaging and ultra-high voltage electron microscope tomography, we found that the apical MTs accumulated and were stabilized by side-by-side association with one side of the apical junctional complex, to which Daple was localized. In vitro binding and single-molecule imaging revealed that Daple directly bound to, bundled, and stabilized MTs through its dimerization. These features convey a PCP-related molecular basis for the polarization of apical MTs, which coordinate ciliary beating in tracheal MCCs.
Inhomogeneous Hubble diagram from vector K-mouflage
Authors: Beltrán Jiménez Jose , Bettoni Dario , Brax Philippe
Published: April 2021

In this letter we construct the Hubble diagram for a universe where dark matter is universally charged under a dark non-linear electromagnetic force which features a screening mechanism of the K-mouflage type for repulsive forces. By resorting to the Newtonian approximation, we explicitly show that the cosmological evolution generates an inhomogeneous Hubble diagram that corresponds to a curvature dominated expansion at short distances and converges to the cosmological one of ΛCDM. We discuss the potential impact of this inhomogeneous profile on the Hubble tension. For completeness, we explicitly show how the Newtonian approximation can be derived from an inhomogeneous relativistic Lemaître model.
Matter-antimatter asymmetry induced by non-linear electrodynamics
Authors: Benaoum H B , Övgün A
Published: April 2021

In this work, we propose an economical model to address some open cosmological problems such as the absence of the initial cosmological singularity, an early acceleration of the Universe and the generation of matter–antimatter asymmetry. The model is based on a scenario in which the early Universe consists of a non-linear electrodynamics (NLED) fields. It is found that the NLED model has an equation of state

p
=

1

3

ρ
−

4

3

β

ρ

1
+
α

which shows that the Universe undergoes an early epoch acceleration to a radiation era given by

p
=

1

3

ρ

. We show that the singularities in the energy density, pressure and curvature are absent at early stages. In our scenario, the baryon asymmetry is generated by the non-linearity parameter β. Additionally, we calculate the resulting baryon asymmetry and discuss how a successful gravitational baryogenesis is obtained for different values of the model’s parameter space.
Kalb–Ramond scalar QED multiple vacua
Authors: Smailagic Anais , Spallucci Euro
Published: April 2021

We study a model of interacting vector and Kalb–Ramond gauge fields in a non-trivial Higgs vacuum generated by a charged and a neutral scalar field. The system admits different vacua for different v.e.v. of the two Higgs fields. Our primary interest in this paper regards the ‘mixed phase’ where both the photon and the Kalb–Ramond acquire a mass. In this phase we compute the interaction potential energy between static test charges. It turns out that the limit in which the photon becomes massless, while the Kalb–Ramond remains massive, leads to a Cornell confining potential between test charges.
Revisiting the thermal conductivity of Si, Ge and diamond from first principles: roles of atomic mass and interatomic potential
Authors: Guo Guiming , Yang Xiaolong , Carrete Jesús , Li Wu
Published: April 2021

The thermal conductivity (κ) of nonmetals is determined by the constituent atoms, the crystal structure and interatomic potentials. Although the group-IV elemental solids Si, Ge and diamond have been studied extensively, a detailed understanding of the connection between the fundamental features of their energy landscapes and their thermal transport properties is still lacking. Here, starting from first principles, we analyze those factors, including the atomic mass (m) and the second- (harmonic) and third-order (anharmonic) interatomic force constants (IFCs). Both the second- and third-order IFCs of Si and Ge are very similar, and thus Si and Ge represent ideal systems to understand how the atomic mass alone affects κ. Although the group velocity (v) decreases with increasing atomic mass (

v

−
1

∝

m

), the phonon lifetime (τ) follows the opposite trend (

τ
∝

m

). Since the contribution to κ from each phonon mode is approximately proportional v
2
τ, κ is lower for the heavier element, namely Ge. Although the extremely high thermal conductivity of diamond is often attributed to weak anharmonic scattering, the anharmonic component of the interatomic potential is not much weaker than those of Si and Ge, which seems to be overlooked in the literature. In fact, the absolute magnitude of the third-order IFCs is much larger in diamond, and the ratios of the third-order IFCs with respect to the second-order ones are comparable to those of Si and Ge. We also explain the experimentally measured κ of high-quality diamonds (Inyushikin et al 2018 Phys. Rev. B
97 144305) by introducing boundary scattering into the picture, and obtain good agreement between calculations and measurements.
Measurement of salinity in slurry based on modified electrical conductivity method
Authors: Yuan Jing , Zhang Minxi , Yu Guoliang
Published: April 2021

Salinity is an important factor in the management of inland and oceanic water resources. Currently, the electrical conductivity (EC) method is widely used for the measurement of salinity in different components of the environment. However, this method is not reliable for the measurement of salinity in slurry, as the conversion formula from the EC value to salinity does not consider fine particle size and its content. In this study, the salinity of slurry based on EC measurements was extensively investigated. In total, 1148 laboratory tests and 40 field tests were performed. The results indicate that the EC value is mainly influenced by the salinity, temperature, fine particle size, fine particle content, and sediment concentration of slurry. The fine particle size and its content play an important role in the measurement of salinity in slurry. The surface coefficient of the fine particles was herein considered as the parameter to indicate the effects of fine particle size and its content on the EC value. The results show that the effects of salinity and temperature on the EC measurement are more significant than that of the surface coefficient of fine particles and sediment concentration. Although the EC of slurry is positively and linearly related to salinity and temperature, it has negative relationships with the surface coefficient of fine particles and sediment concentration. Based on dimensional analysis and experimental data, a new formula was proposed for the calculation of salinity which considers the EC, sediment concentration, surface coefficient of fine particles, and temperature of the slurry. This modified conversion formula for the EC method was successfully tested with laboratory, field and other scholars’ data, which assures a reliable salinity measurement of slurry in shallow oligohaline water areas.
Low loss dielectric measurements in the frequency range 1–70 MHz by using a vector network analyser
Authors: Gregory A P , Hill G J , Barnett M A
Published: April 2021

The resonance of a coil inductor and a parallel-electrode capacitor can be used to determine the permittivity and loss angle of sheets of material at RF frequencies. By using high-stability instrumentation to measure resonant frequency and Q-factor, the loss angle of very low-loss materials can be determined with a resolution of below 10 microradians. In the 1970s much work went into developing Q-meter-based systems, based on series resonance, which were typically used for measuring the loss angle of polymers such as polyethylene. These systems were also used for measuring ceramics used as RF windows in prototype fusion reactors. This paper describes how one of these systems was updated to replace the now obsolete Q-meter with a vector network analyser (VNA), using parallel resonance. A second aspect to the work is calculation of the fringing (edge) capacitance between the electrodes, which are unguarded, by using MIT FastCap software. This enables measurements obtained by the equivalent-thickness method to be corrected for the effects of fringing capacitance. Measurements using an unmodified Q-meter system, a VNA-based system, and two other techniques are compared for polyethylene, fused silica, macor and alumina specimens. Good agreement is obtained. The measurements are presented with comprehensive evaluations of uncertainty.
Structure and transportation of electron vortices in near-critical density plasmas driven by ultrashort intense laser pulses
Authors: Yue D N , Chen M , Geng P F , Yuan X H , Sheng Z M , Zhang J , Dong Q L , Das A , Kumar G R
Published: April 2021

Structure and transportation of electron vortices in near-critical density plasmas driven by ultrashort intense laser pulses have been studied by multi-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Dimensional features of electron vortices are revealed. In two-dimensional geometry, two electron vortices and a quasi-static magnetic dipole are closely coupled. In three-dimensional geometry, a moving electron vortex ring associated with a closed magnetic ring moves in near-critical density plasmas. Such structure can transport some energy to the region where the laser pulse cannot reach. It is found that the motion of plasma ions makes the vortex magnetic energy dissipate quickly. These studies provide possible connection of electron vortices in nature with laser plasma experiments.
Improving the applicability of the Pauli kinetic energy density based semilocal functional for solids
Authors: Jana Subrata , Behera Sushant Kumar , Śmiga Szymon , Constantin Lucian A , Samal Prasanjit
Published: April 2021

The Pauli kinetic energy enhancement factor α = (τ − τ

W
)/τ
unif is an important density ingredient, used to construct many meta-generalized gradient approximations (meta-GGA) exchange–correlation (XC) energy functionals, including the very successful strongly constrained and appropriately normed (SCAN) semilocal functional. Another meta-GGA functional, known as MGGAC (2019 Phys. Rev. B
100 155140), is also proposed in recent time depending only on the α ingredient and based on the generalization of the Becke–Roussel approach with the cuspless hydrogen exchange hole density. The MGGAC functional is proved to be a very useful and competitive meta-GGA semilocal functional for electronic structure properties of solids and molecules. Based on the successful implication of the ingredient α, which is also useful to construct the one-electron self-interaction free correlation energy functional, here we propose revised correlation energy for MGGAC exchange functional which is more accurate and robust, especially for the high and low-density limits of the uniform density scaling. The present XC functional, named as revised MGGAC (rMGGAC), shows an impressive improvement for the structural and energetic properties of solids compared to its previous version. Moreover, the assessment of the present constructed functional shows to be quite useful in solid-state physics in terms of addressing several current challenging solid-state problems.
The rate by which mortality increase with age is the same for those who experienced chronic disease as for the general population
Authors: Ebeling Marcus , Rau Roland , Malmström Håkan , Ahlbom Anders , Modig Karin
Published: April 2021

Background

Mortality doubles approximately every 6–7 years during adulthood. This exponential increase in death risk with chronological age is the population-level manifestation of ageing, and often referred to as the rate-of-ageing.

Objective

We explore whether the onset of severe chronic disease alters the rate-of-ageing.

Methods

Using Swedish register data covering the entire population of the birth cohorts 1927–30, we analyse whether being diagnosed with myocardial infarction, diabetes or cancer results in a deviation of the rate-of-ageing from those of the total population. We also quantify the long-term mortality effects of these diseases, using ages with equivalent mortality levels for those with disease and the total population.

Results

None of the diseases revealed a sustained effect on the rate-of-ageing. After an initial switch upwards in the level of mortality, the rate-of-ageing returned to the same pace as for the total population. The time it takes for the rate to return depends on the disease. The long-term effects of diabetes and myocardial infarction amount to mortality levels that are equivalent to those aged 5–7 years older in the total population. For cancer, the level of mortality returns to that of the total population.

Conclusion

Our results suggest an underlying process of ageing that causes mortality to increase at a set pace, with every year older we become. This process is not affected by disease history. The persistence of the rate-of-ageing motivates a critical discussion of what role disease prevention can play in altering the progression of ageing.
Heidegger, classical reception and the discourse of modernity: a crisis in thinking
Authors: Walsh Joseph M
Published: April 2021

Heidegger, perhaps the most influential philosopher of the last century, sought to do something with the Greeks never done before: to establish a new tradition of thinking. He saw in their literature and philosophy a concern with what is most essential and vital to man, and which has been glossed over and forgotten in modern thought. Controversial as his readings are, the exploration given here of Heidegger’s attempt to revive the spirit of Greek thinking reveals not only the fundamentally receptive nature of his philosophy but also the philosophical import of classical reception. While few would argue that Heidegger initiated a new tradition, he set in motion an intellectual crisis surrounding how the ills of modernity are rooted in modes of thought we must overcome. By making the Greeks the solution to this, Heidegger shifted the so-called ‘discourse of modernity’ to an assessment of the Greek’s impact on thinking today and their potential for us to think anew. As such, he made classical reception the vehicle for both understanding and critiquing the form of Modernity and its thinking. Therein lies the value of Heidegger for classical reception, because he gives it the intellectual impetus to confront what man is today.
Spending Political Capital
Authors: Campbell Arthur
Published: April 2021

An important task for organisations is establishing truthful communication between parties with differing interests. This task is made particularly challenging when the accuracy of the information is poorly observed or not at all. In these settings, incentive contracts based on the accuracy of information will not be very effective. This paper considers an alternative mechanism that does not require any signal of the accuracy of any information communicated to provide incentives for truthful communication. Rather, an expert sacrifices future participation in decision-making to influence the current period’s decision in favour of their preferred project. This mechanism captures a notion often described as ‘political capital’ whereby an individual is able to achieve their own preferred decision in the current period at the expense of being able to exert influence in future decisions (‘spending political capital’). When the first-best is not possible in this setting, I show that experts hold more influence than under the first-best and that, in a multi-agent extension, a finite team size is optimal. Together these results suggest that a small number of individuals hold excessive influence in organisations.
What can heart failure trialists learn from oncology trialists?
Authors: Zannad Faiez , Cotter Gad , Alonso Garcia Angeles , George Suzanne , Davison Beth , Figtree Gemma , Prasad Krishna , Rockhold Frank , Schilsky Richard L , Stockbridge Norman , Pitt Bertram , Butler Javed
Published: April 2021

Globally, there has been little change in mortality rates from cardiovascular (CV) diseases or cancers over the past two decades (1997–2018). This is especially true for heart failure (HF) where 5-year mortality rates remain as high as 45–55%. In the same timeframe, the proportion of drug revenue, and regulatory drug approvals for cancer drugs, far out paces those for CV drugs. In 2018, while cancer drugs made 27% of Food and Drug Administration drug approvals, only 1% of drug approvals was for a CV drug, and over this entire 20 year span, only four drugs were approved for HF in the USA. Cardiovascular trialists need to reassess the design, execution, and purpose of CV clinical trials. In the area of oncology research, trials are much smaller, follow-up is shorter, and targeted therapies are common. Cardiovascular diseases and cancer are the two most common causes of death globally, and although they differ substantially, this review evaluates whether some elements of oncology research may be applicable in the CV arena. As one of the most underserved CV diseases, the review focuses on aspects of cancer research that may be applicable to HF research with the aim of streamlining the clinical trial process and decreasing the time and cost required to bring safe, effective, treatments to patients who need them. The paper is based on discussions among clinical trialists, industry representatives, regulatory authorities, and patients, which took place at the Cardiovascular Clinical Trialists Workshop in Washington, DC, on 8 December 2019 (https://www.globalcvctforum.com/2019 (14 September 2020)).
Swainsonine producing performance of Alternaria oxytropis was improved by heavy-ion mutagenesis technology
Authors: liang Yan , Li Shangwei , Song Xiangdong , Zhou Deshun , Zhi Dejuan , Hao Baocheng , Liu Yu , Liang Jianping , Wang Zhen
Published: April 2021

Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, is a promising anti-tumorigenic compound. Biological production of swainsonine was prospective, but the low swainsonine yield of wild type Alternaria oxytropis limited its production on a large scale. In present work, a stable A. oxytropis mutant UO1 with swanisonine yield of 14.84% higher than the wild-type strain was successfully obtained after heavy-ion irradiation. The A. oxytropis mutant UO1 and original wild-type strain were futher evaluated for SW concentrations under different factors. Results showed that the optimum culture temperature was 25°C. The optimum initial medium pH was 6.5 and the optimum inoculum size was 2 mL per 200 mL. Addition of the biosynthetic precursor L-pipecolic acids and L-lysine appropriately could increase the SW synthesis. These findings provided a theoretical basis and scientific data for the industrial production of swainsonine.
Chromosome-Level Assembly of the Atlantic Silverside Genome Reveals Extreme Levels of Sequence Diversity and Structural Genetic Variation
Authors: Tigano Anna , Jacobs Arne , Wilder Aryn P , Nand Ankita , Zhan Ye , Dekker Job , Therkildsen Nina Overgaard
Published: April 2021

The levels and distribution of standing genetic variation in a genome can provide a wealth of insights about the adaptive potential, demographic history, and genome structure of a population or species. As structural variants are increasingly associated with traits important for adaptation and speciation, investigating both sequence and structural variation is essential for wholly tapping this potential. Using a combination of shotgun sequencing, 10x Genomics linked reads and proximity-ligation data (Chicago and Hi-C), we produced and annotated a chromosome-level genome assembly for the Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia)—an established ecological model for studying the phenotypic effects of natural and artificial selection—and examined patterns of genomic variation across two individuals sampled from different populations with divergent local adaptations. Levels of diversity varied substantially across each chromosome, consistently being highly elevated near the ends (presumably near telomeric regions) and dipping to near zero around putative centromeres. Overall, our estimate of the genome-wide average heterozygosity in the Atlantic silverside is among the highest reported for a fish, or any vertebrate (1.32–1.76% depending on inference method and sample). Furthermore, we also found extreme levels of structural variation, affecting ∼23% of the total genome sequence, including multiple large inversions (> 1 Mb and up to 12.6 Mb) associated with previously identified haploblocks showing strong differentiation between locally adapted populations. These extreme levels of standing genetic variation are likely associated with large effective population sizes and may help explain the remarkable adaptive divergence among populations of the Atlantic silverside.