bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electronic and optical properties and quantum tuning effects of As/Hfs2 van der Waals heterostructure
Authors: Zhang Lun , Chen Hong-Li , Yi Yu , Zhang Zhen-Hua ,   Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronic Materials Genome Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410114, China
Published: May 2022

Stacking two or more monolayer materials to form van der Waals heterostructures is an effective strategy to realize ideal electronic and optoelectronic devices. In this work, we use As and HfS2 monolayers to construct As/Hfs2 heterostructures by six stacking manners, and from among them the most stable structure is selected to study its electronic and optic-electronic properties and quantum regulation effects by hybrid functional HSE06 systematically. It is found that the As/Hfs2 intrinsic heterostructure is a II-type band aligned semiconductor, and its band gap can be significantly reduced (~ 0.84 eV) in comparison with two monolayers (band gap > 2.0 eV), especially the valence band offset and conduction band offset can increase up to 1.48 eV and 1.31 eV, respectively, which is very favorable for developing high-performance optoelectronic devices and solar cells. The vertical strain can effectively adjust the band structure of heterostructure. The band gap increases by tensile strain, accompanied with an indirect-direct band gap transition. However, by compressive strain, the band gap decreases rapidly until the metal phase occurs. The applied external electric field can flexibly adjust the band gap and band alignment mode of heterostructure, so that the heterostructure can realize the transformation between I-, II-, and III-type band alignments. In addition, intrinsic As/Hfs2 heterostructure has ability to strongly absorb light in the visible light region, and can be further enhanced by external electric field and vertical strain. These results suggest that the intrinsic As/Hfs2 heterostructure promises to have potential applications in the fields of electronic, optoelectronic devices and photovoltaic cells.
Density shift measurement and synchronous frequency comparison based on in situ imaging technique
Authors: Hu Xiao-Hua , Lu Xiao-Tong , Zhang Xiao-Fei , Chang Hong ,   Microwave Devices and Systems Research and Development Center, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China,   Key Laboratory of Time and Frequency Primary Standards of Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710600, China,   University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Published: May 2022

Precision measurement of the density shift caused by the interaction among neutral atoms trapped in an optical lattice has important applications in the study of multi-body interaction and the realization of high-performance optical lattice clocks. The common methods of measuring the density are the self-comparison technique and frequency comparison between two optical lattice clocks. Both methods are based on the identical density shift coefficient and should interrelatedly operate the clock at high- and low-density state, respectively. The precision of self-comparison method is limited by the Dick effect. The synchronous frequency comparison between two optical lattice clocks can realize the precision beyond the Dick limit. However, both methods can only obtain the average density shift and ignore the fact that the magnitude of the density shift is different over the lattice sites as inhomogeneous density distribution in the lattice. In this paper, the synchronous frequency comparison technique based on in situ imaging is used to accurately measure the density shift coefficient of optical lattice clock. Atoms in the optical lattice are simultaneously and independently excited by the same clock laser beam, and the clock transition probability of 11 uncorrelated regions of the optical lattice is simultaneously detected by in situ imaging. Thus, the clock laser noise, which is the root cause of the Dick effect, is common-mode rejected as the frequency difference between uncorrelated regions is measured by the clock transition spectrum. Beyond the Dick-noise-limited stability, the stability of synchronous frequency comparison between uncorrelated regions is consistent with the limit resulting from the atom detection noise. Between the center and margin of the lattice, the differential shifts of the black-body radiation shift, lattice AC Stark shift, probe Stark shift, DC Stark shift, and quadratic Zeeman shift are all below 5 × 10–6 Hz, which is three orders of magnitude smaller than the density shift and can be ignored in this experiment. Benefitting from the inhomogeneous distribution of atom number and negligible external field gradient in the optical lattice, the compared frequency shift between uncorrelated regions indicates the density shift. By measuring the relationship between the density shift and atom difference, the density shift coefficient is determined as –0.101(3) Hz/atom/site (with a measurement time of 103 s), and the fractional measurement uncertainty of the mean density shift of our system is 1.5 × 10–17.
SARS-CoV-2 host-shutoff impacts innate NK cell functions, but antibody-dependent NK activity is strongly activated through non-spike antibodies
Authors: Fielding Ceri Alan , Sabberwal Pragati , Williamson James C , Greenwood Edward JD , Crozier Thomas WM , Zelek Wioleta , Seow Jeffrey , Graham Carl , Huettner Isabella , Edgeworth Jonathan D , Price David A , Morgan Paul B , Ladell Kristin , Eberl Matthias , Humphreys Ian R , Merrick Blair , Doores Katie , Wilson Sam J , Lehner Paul J , Wang Eddie CY , Stanton Richard J
Published: May 2022

The outcome of infection is dependent on the ability of viruses to manipulate the infected cell to evade immunity, and the ability of the immune response to overcome this evasion. Understanding this process is key to understanding pathogenesis, genetic risk factors, and both natural and vaccine-induced immunity. SARS-CoV-2 antagonises the innate interferon response, but whether it manipulates innate cellular immunity is unclear. An unbiased proteomic analysis determined how cell surface protein expression is altered on SARS-CoV-2-infected lung epithelial cells, showing downregulation of activating NK ligands B7-H6, MICA, ULBP2, and Nectin1, with minimal effects on MHC-I. This occurred at the level of protein synthesis, could be mediated by Nsp1 and Nsp14, and correlated with a reduction in NK cell activation. This identifies a novel mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 host-shutoff antagonises innate immunity. Later in the disease process, strong antibody-dependent NK cell activation (ADNKA) developed. These responses were sustained for at least 6 months in most patients, and led to high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Depletion of spike-specific antibodies confirmed their dominant role in neutralisation, but these antibodies played only a minor role in ADNKA compared to antibodies to other proteins, including ORF3a, Membrane, and Nucleocapsid. In contrast, ADNKA induced following vaccination was focussed solely on spike, was weaker than ADNKA following natural infection, and was not boosted by the second dose. These insights have important implications for understanding disease progression, vaccine efficacy, and vaccine design.
WhyD tailors surface polymers to prevent premature bacteriolysis and direct cell elongation in Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Flores-Kim Josué , Dobihal Genevieve S , Bernhardt Thomas G , Rudner David Z
Published: May 2022

Penicillin and related antibiotics disrupt cell wall synthesis in bacteria causing the downstream misactivation of cell wall hydrolases called autolysins to induce cell lysis. Despite the clinical importance of this phenomenon, little is known about the factors that control autolysins and how penicillins subvert this regulation to kill cells. In the pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp), LytA is the major autolysin responsible for penicillin-induced bacteriolysis. We recently discovered that penicillin treatment of Sp causes a dramatic shift in surface polymer biogenesis in which cell wall-anchored teichoic acids (WTAs) increase in abundance at the expense of lipid-linked teichoic acids (LTAs). Because LytA binds to both species of teichoic acids, this change recruits the enzyme to its substrate where it cleaves the cell wall and elicits lysis. In this report, we identify WhyD (SPD_0880) as a new factor that controls the level of WTAs in Sp cells to prevent LytA misactivation and lysis during exponential growth . We show that WhyD is a WTA hydrolase that restricts the WTA content of the wall to areas adjacent to active peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis. Our results support a model in which the WTA tailoring activity of WhyD during exponential growth directs PG remodeling activity required for proper cell elongation in addition to preventing autolysis by LytA.
Canonical Wnt signaling and the regulation of divergent mesenchymal Fgf8 expression in axolotl limb development and regeneration
Authors: Glotzer Giacomo L , Tardivo Pietro , Tanaka Elly M
Published: May 2022

The expression of fibroblast growth factors (Fgf) ligands in a specialized epithelial compartment, the Apical Ectodermal Ridge (AER), is a conserved feature of limb development across vertebrate species. In vertebrates, Fgf 4, 8, 9, and 17 are all expressed in the AER. An exception to this paradigm is the salamander (axolotl) developing and regenerating limb, where key Fgf ligands are expressed in the mesenchyme. The mesenchymal expression of Amex.Fgf8 in axolotl has been suggested to be critical for regeneration. To date, there is little knowledge regarding what controls Amex.Fgf8 expression in the axolotl limb mesenchyme. A large body of mouse and chick studies have defined a set of transcription factors and canonical Wnt signaling as the main regulators of epidermal Fgf8 expression in these organisms. In this study, we address the hypothesis that alterations to one or more of these components during evolution has resulted in mesenchymal Amex.Fgf8 expression in the axolotl. To sensitively quantify gene expression with spatial precision, we combined optical clearing of whole-mount axolotl limb tissue with single molecule fluorescent in situ hybridization and a semiautomated quantification pipeline. Several candidate upstream components were found expressed in the axolotl ectoderm, indicating that they are not direct regulators of Amex.Fgf8 expression. We found that Amex.Wnt3a is expressed in axolotl limb epidermis, similar to chicken and mouse. However, unlike in amniotes, Wnt target genes are activated preferentially in limb mesenchyme rather than in epidermis. Inhibition and activation of Wnt signaling results in downregulation and upregulation of mesenchymal Amex.Fgf8 expression, respectively. These results implicate a shift in tissue responsiveness to canonical Wnt signaling from epidermis to mesenchyme as one step contributing to the unique mesenchymal Amex.Fgf8 expression seen in the axolotl.
Does the landscape functionality approach provide insight into rangeland conditions in the Tanqua Karoo region, South Africa?
Authors: Saaed Manam , Jacobs Shayne , Masubelele Mmoto Leonard , Khomo Lesego , Samuels Igshaan
Published: May 2022

The harsh environmental conditions coupled with a long history of overgrazing have altered the ecology of the arid Tanqua Karoo rangelands in South Africa, which necessitates rehabilitation. However, a suitable method for monitoring rangeland function over time is required for sustainable management. In this study, vegetation characteristics and landscape function indices were used to rate and compare rangeland conditions in 43 sites distributed among three vegetation types: Tanqua Karoo, Tanqua Wash Riviere, and Tanqua Escarpment Shrubland, which occupy different landscapes in the Tankwa Karoo National Park. The results showed low values of vegetation volume (mean of 10.1 m3 per 100 m−2) and low vegetated patches (mean of 29% patches vs 71% fetches). The overall landscape function indices (soil stability, water infiltration, and nutrient recycling) were low and amounted to 55%, 28%, and 17%, respectively. Amongst the various examined landscapes, the escarpment had the highest values of most of the measured landscape functionality parameters, and the open plains had the lowest values. This revealed high heterogeneity of soil properties and vegetation characteristics amongst the different vegetation types, mainly influenced by altitudinal gradients. The higher-lying landscapes on the escarpment are relatively more functional and more susceptible to improvement when compared to the lower-lying landscapes on the plains. The landscape functionality approach (LFA) approach demonstrated that some of the examined vegetation types had insignificant improvement in landscape functionality likely not to improve in the near term due to existing low patchiness, higher fetch space and low LFA indices coupled with the low annual rainfall of the region. The landscape functionality approach has provided a suitable benchmark for assessing and monitoring the diverse vegetation types in this arid part of the world.
Differences in college students’ occupational dysfunction and mental health considering trait and state anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kusumoto Yasuaki , Higo Rieko , Ohno Kanta
Published: May 2022

Background

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, university education has shifted from face-to-face classes to online and distance learning. Effects of exposure may manifest in terms of psychological, cognitive, or musculoskeletal impairments that affect an individual’s daily functioning and quality of life. There is a dearth of studies exploring anxiety states, occupational dysfunction, and mental health associated with the new standard of increased telecommunication. Accordingly, the present study aimed to identify the differences in occupational dysfunction, health literacy, positive and negative emotions, and stress response considering the anxiety states of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another purpose is to identify relationships among the parameters such as occupational dysfunction and mental health.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 358 students (average age: 18.5 years, age range: 18–29 years). Five tools were used: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Classification and Assessment of Occupational Dysfunction (CAOD), European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47), Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition (POMS-2), and Stress Response Scale-18 (SRS-18). Based on the cutoff value of state and trait anxiety of the STAI, the participants were classified into four groups and compared using one-way analysis of variance and multiple comparison tests. The relationship between all parameters was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results

The group with high trait anxiety and high state anxiety had the highest CAOD total score, Total Mood Disturbance score on the POMS-2, SRS-18 score, and scores on many sub-items of the three parameters. The prevalence of occupational dysfunction was 47% for university students, and there was a variation of from 19 to 61% in each group. The correlation coefficients of the state and trait anxiety scores of the STAI, Total Mood Disturbance score, and SRS-18 ranged from .64 to .75. Additionally, the correlation coefficient between the CAOD total score and these parameters ranged from .44 to .48.

Conclusion

The prevalence of occupational dysfunction was highest in the group with high trait anxiety and high state anxiety, and occupational dysfunction, negative emotions, and stress responses were strongest in this group. Our findings point to potential areas for targeted support and interventions.
Prevalence and richness of malaria and malaria-like parasites in wild birds from different biomes in South America
Authors: de Angeli Dutra Daniela , Belo Nayara , Braga Erika M.
Published: May 2022

South America has different biomes with a high richness of wild bird species and Diptera vectors, representing an ideal place to study the influence of habitat on vector-borne parasites. In order to better understand how different types of habitats do or do not influence the prevalence of haemosporidians, we performed a new analysis of two published datasets comprising wild birds from the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado) as well as wild birds from the Venezuelan Arid Zone. We investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of haemosporidian parasites belonging to two genera: Plasmodium and Haemoproteus. We evaluated data from 676 wild birds from the Cerrado and observed an overall prevalence of 49%, whereas, in the Venezuelan Arid Zone, we analyzed data from 527 birds and found a similar overall prevalence of 43%. We recovered 44 lineages, finding Plasmodium parasites more prevalent in the Cerrado (15 Plasmodium and 12 Haemoproteus lineages) and Haemoproteus in the Venezuelan Arid Zone (seven Plasmodium and 10 Haemoproteus lineages). No difference was observed on parasite richness between the two biomes. We observed seven out of 44 haemosporidian lineages that are shared between these two distinct South American biomes. This pattern of parasite composition and prevalence may be a consequence of multiple factors, such as host diversity and particular environmental conditions, especially precipitation that modulate the vector’s dynamics. The relationship of blood parasites with the community of hosts in large and distinct ecosystems can provide more information about what factors are responsible for the variation in the prevalence and diversity of these parasites in an environment.
Entre innovación y valorización inmobiliaria: la controvertida trayectoria de un parque tecnológico en Recife Antigo, Brasil
Authors:   Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil., Fernandes Ana-Cristina , Lacerda Norma ,   Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil.
Published: May 2022

Este artículo analiza el Proyecto Porto Digital, ubicado en el distrito histórico de Recife, Brasil, entendiéndolo como forma de apropiación local de la Política Nacional de Informática. Complementando esta, con instrumentos estaduales y municipales, el proyecto moviliza coalición de intereses que se ha ido expandiendo, transformando la geografía y el valor del espacio construido en el Centro Histórico de Recife (CHR). Con base en datos de empleo en software de 10 capitales brasileñas, para análisis comparativo del dinamismo de las empresas del sector, y en datos de registro inmobiliario para verificar la valorización de predios ubicados en los distintos barrios del CHR, concluimos que la articulación de las políticas federales, estaduales y municipales condujo a la construcción de una aglomeración de empresas, en la que se observa más la valorización inmobiliaria que el dinamismo tecnológico de las empresas instaladas en él, reflejando su condición histórica como metrópoli periférica.
¿Renovación sin gentrificación? Hacia un abordaje crítico de procesos urbanos excluyentes en América Latina. Casos en Buenos Aires.
Authors:   Centro de Estudios Urbanos y Regionales (CEUR), Buenos Aires, Argentina, Lerena-Rongvaux Natalia
Published: May 2022

Durante la última década, en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires ha tenido lugar un conjunto de políticas de renovación urbana orientadas a la valorización de su zona sur, un área históricamente relegada por el capital y el Estado. Partiendo de una revisión crítica y situada del concepto de gentrificación, el presente trabajo analiza los efectos socioterritoriales de la política de Distritos Económicos, específicamente el Tecnológico y de las Artes. La metodología, cualicuantitativa, considera cuatro dinámicas fundamentales: la estructura sociohabitacional, la valorización del mercado inmobiliario y de suelo, las políticas de renovación y, finalmente, el tejido organizativo y comunitario. Entre los resultados, se verifica una acelerada valorización inmobiliaria que, en algunos distritos, no está acompañada por evidencias de gentrificación en sentido estricto. No obstante, la estructura sociohabitacional y la ausencia de mecanismos “antidesplazamiento” de las políticas en curso permiten constatar dinámicas de renovación urbana excluyente, cuyos impactos a futuro deben continuar monitoreándose.
La imagen turística de Barcelona en la ficción audiovisual. Catalanidad, cosmopolitismo y mediterraneidad versus españolada
Authors:   Universidad de Lleida, Lleida, España, Nieto-Ferrando Jorge , Marine-Roig Estela ,   Universidad de Lleida, Lleida, España, Ferrer-Rosell Berta ,   Universidad de Lleida, Lleida, España, Martin-Fuentes Eva ,   Universidad de Lleida, Lleida, España
Published: May 2022

Muchas ciudades invierten recursos en atraer rodajes de producciones audiovisuales e influir en sus contenidos. Existe la idea generalizada de que las películas potencian la imagen de los lugares en los que se ruedan o se ambientan. Esta investigación compara la imagen actual de Barcelona proyectada por los organismos oficiales, fundamentada en unos atractivos que simbolizan catalanidad, cosmopolitismo y mediterraneidad, con la proyectada por las películas de producción extranjera. Los resultados muestran que son coincidentes en el tipo de atractivos que destacan. Pero cuando estos son analizados en el contexto de la representación y la narración audiovisual se aprecian disonancias, debido a una importante presencia de clichés de una imagen estereotipada de España cuyos orígenes se remontan al romanticismo decimonónico. Las conclusiones de este estudio pueden ser útiles para evaluar el potencial de la ficción audiovisual para la construcción de las imágenes de los destinos turísticos urbanos.
Cuando la alimentación se convierte en gastronomía. Procesos de activación patrimonial de tradiciones alimentarias
Authors: Hernández Ramírez Javier
Published: May 2022

En el ensayo se analizan procesos de transformación de la alimentación en patrimonio cultural. Estas dinámicas, que suponen la selección y activación de determinados elementos de las tradiciones culinarias, son promovidas por distintos agentes sociales que pugnan por la versión autorizada. El estudio de distintos referentes empíricos permite identificar tres modelos ideales a través de los cuales la alimentación es elevada a la categoría de patrimonio cultural: exo-patrimonialización, endo-patrimonialización y patrimonialización negociada.
Los neógrafos chilenos y la ortografía rrazional: un proyecto lingüístico anarquista
Authors: Villarroel Torres Natalia Valeska
Published: May 2022

La presente investigación se enmarca dentro del contexto político, social y cultural chileno de fines del siglo XIX, donde a raíz del proceso de estandarización lingüística iniciado desde la mitad del siglo, se llevaron a cabo una serie de debates sobre lenguaje que dieron lugar a la reforma ortográfica chilena. A partir de una perspectiva etnortográfica de los estudios glotopolíticos, estudiamos el periodo reformista para analizar las ideologías lingüísticas propuestas por los neógrafos chilenos, un grupo de intelectuales que defendió un sistema ortográfico aún más racional, lógico y radical que el propuesto por cualquier otro reformista de la época. Estos anarquistas de las letras practicaron una ortografía fonemática, no oficial, con la finalidad de concretar un proyecto ideológico contrahegemónico que pretendía alcanzar el progreso lingüístico, político y social en Chile.
¿Qué es la identidad indígena? La importancia simbólica del territorio natural en la lucha mapuche
Authors: Balbontin Cristrobal
Published: May 2022

El presente ensayo tiene como contexto la agudización de la violencia en el actual conflicto entre comunidades mapuche y el Estado, en las regiones de la Araucanía y Los Ríos de Chile, a propósito de la explotación de recursos naturales como bosques, agua y costas, lo que da cuenta de una falta de marco teórico de lectura adecuada de este conflicto que permita al Estado elaborar políticas públicas que posibilite encontrar una vía de solución pacífica y legítima al conflicto. A partir de lo anterior, este ensayo intenta un diálogo entre la filosofía y la antropología a fin de reflexionar sobre la constitución de la identidad indígena, y cómo -a diferencia de la identidad abstracta del hombre moderno- dicha identidad se organiza a partir de relación con la naturaleza circundante.
Trends in Cancer Mortality Among Black Individuals in the US From 1999 to 2019
Authors: Lawrence Wayne R. , McGee-Avila Jennifer K. , Vo Jacqueline B. , Luo Qianlai , Chen Yingxi , Inoue-Choi Maki , Berrington de González Amy , Freedman Neal D. , Shiels Meredith S.
Published: May 2022

Importance

Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the US. Despite national decreases in cancer mortality, Black individuals continue to have the highest cancer death rates.

Objective

To examine national trends in cancer mortality from 1999 to 2019 among Black individuals by demographic characteristics and to compare cancer death rates in 2019 among Black individuals with rates in other racial and ethnic groups.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This serial cross-sectional study used US national death certificate data obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics and included all cancer deaths among individuals aged 20 years or older from January 1999 to December 2019. Data were analyzed from June 2021 to January 2022.

Exposures

Age, sex, and race and ethnicity.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Trends in age-standardized mortality rates and average annual percent change (AAPC) in rates were estimated by cancer type, age, sex, and race and ethnicity.

Results

From 1999 to 2019, 1 361 663 million deaths from cancer occurred among Black individuals. The overall cancer death rate significantly decreased among Black men (AAPC, −2.6%; 95% CI, −2.6% to −2.6%) and women (AAPC, −1.5%; 95% CI, −1.7% to −1.3%). Death rates decreased for most cancer types, with the greatest decreases observed for lung cancer among men (AAPC, −3.8%; 95% CI, −4.0% to −3.6%) and stomach cancer among women (AAPC, −3.4%; 95% CI, −3.6% to −3.2%). Lung cancer mortality also had the largest absolute decreases among men (−78.5 per 100 000 population) and women (−19.5 per 100 000 population). We observed a significant increase in deaths from liver cancer among men (AAPC, 3.8%; 95% CI, 3.0%-4.6%) and women (AAPC, 1.8%; 95% CI, 1.2%-2.3%) aged 65 to 79 years. There was also an increasing trend in uterus cancer mortality among women aged 35 to 49 years (2.9%; 95% CI, 2.3% to 2.6%), 50 to 64 years (2.3%; 95% CI, 2.0% to 2.6%), and 65 to 79 years (1.6%; 95% CI, 1.2% to 2.0%). In 2019, Black men and women had the highest cancer mortality rates compared with non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, and White individuals and Hispanic/Latino individuals.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study, there were substantial decreases in cancer death rates among Black individuals from 1999 to 2019, but higher cancer death rates among Black men and women compared with other racial and ethnic groups persisted in 2019. Targeted interventions appear to be needed to eliminate social inequalities that contribute to Black individuals having higher cancer mortality.
High‐dose IgG suppresses local inflammation and facilitates functional recovery after olfactory system injury
Authors: Nishida Kohei , Kobayashi Masayoshi , Ishigami Eisuke , Takeuchi Kazuhiko
Published: May 2022

Objective

Head trauma can be a cause of refractory olfactory dysfunction due to olfactory nervous system injury. Anti‐inflammatory treatment using steroids or anti‐cytokine agents is known to contribute to functional recovery of the central and peripheral nervous systems in injury models, while there is a concern that they can induce adverse reactions. The present study examines if high‐dose immunoglobulin G (IgG) can facilitate olfactory functional recovery following injury.

Methods

Olfactory nerve transection (NTx) was performed in OMP‐tau‐lacZ mice to establish injury models. High‐dose IgG was intraperitoneally injected immediately after the NTx and histological assessment of recovery within the olfactory bulb was performed at 5, 14, 42, and 100 days after the drug injection. X‐gal staining labeled degenerating and regenerating olfactory nerve fibers and immunohistochemical staining detected the presence of reactive astrocytes and macrophages/microglia. Olfactory function was assessed using an olfactory avoidance behavioral test.

Results

High‐dose IgG‐injected mice showed significantly smaller areas of injury‐associated tissue, fewer astrocytes and macrophages/microglia, and an increase in regenerating nerve fibers. An olfactory avoidance behavioral test showed improved functional recovery in the IgG‐injected mice.

Interpretation

These findings suggest that high‐dose IgG could provide a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of olfactory dysfunction following head injuries.
Bimetallic Synergy in Ultrafine Cocatalyst Alloy Nanoparticles for Efficient Photocatalytic Water Splitting
Authors: Pelicano Christian Mark , Saruyama Masaki , Takahata Ryo , Sato Ryota , Kitahama Yasutaka , Matsuzaki Hiroyuki , Yamada Taro , Hisatomi Takashi , Domen Kazunari , Teranishi Toshiharu
Published: May 2022

Herein, PtRu solid‐solution alloy nanoparticles enable high‐performance H2 evolution reaction cocatalysts through the transfer of knowledge from electrocatalysis to photocatalysis. Ultrafine PtRu alloy nanoparticles (1.0 ± 0.2 nm in diameter) are synthesized by using a chemical polyol method and used for electro/photo‐catalyses. Integration of PtRu nanoparticles with carbon and Al‐doped SrTiO3 powders via liquid‐phase adsorption and successive two‐step air and H2 annealing ensures uniform deposition of PtRu alloy nanoparticles (<2 nm) with a solid‐solution structure. The PtRu alloy nanoparticles exhibit higher electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction than monometallic Pt counterparts. Modifying Al‐doped SrTiO3 with PtRu alloy nanoparticles results in efficient photocatalytic overall water‐splitting activity with an apparent quantum yield of 65% at 365 nm and a solar‐to‐hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 0.45%, which are the highest values among SrTiO3‐based photocatalytic water splitting systems with Rh‐free cocatalysts. Transient diffuse reflectance spectroscopy reveals that the PtRu nanoparticles have a superior electron‐capturing ability than the Pt counterparts, probably due to the decreased work function of Pt by alloying with Ru. This work establishes a framework to elucidate catalytic trends and provides rational design guidance toward the development of bimetallic solid‐solution nanoparticles as cost‐effective and highly active cocatalysts for overall water splitting.
A Multifunctional and Efficient Artificial Visual Perception Nervous System with Sb2Se3/CdS‐Core/Shell (SC) Nanorod Arrays Optoelectronic Memristor
Authors: Pei Yifei , Li Zhiqiang , Li Bin , Zhao Ying , He Hui , Yan Lei , Li Xiaoyu , Wang Jingjuan , Zhao Zhen , Sun Yong , Zhou Zhenyu , Zhao Jianhui , Guo Rui , Chen Jingsheng , Yan Xiaobing
Published: May 2022

More than 80% of biological learning information is received through the visual system; therefore, artificial vision systems have garnered continual interest in the field of artificial intelligence technologies. Simulating the activities of a range of human vision systems, such as discrimination, memory, and induced muscular activity, which still remains a challenge. The authors develop a high‐speed multifunctional artificial vision system capable of recognizing, memorizing, and actuating self‐protection by combining a Sb2Se3/CdS‐core/shell (SC) nanorod array optoelectronic memristor, a threshold‐switching memristor, and an electrochemical actuator. When an optoelectronic memristor is activated, it can cause an electrochemical actuator to move, simulating the eye muscle contraction and reproducing the self‐protection response of closing eyes when the human eyes are injured by intense light. Light absorption and charge carrier extraction are advantages of optoelectronic memristors with high‐quality SC nanorod arrays. The device achieves a fast response speed and a large response current of up to 40 µs and 0.8 µA. Artificial vision systems offer a potential technique for bionanotechnology, particularly in the domain of artificial intelligence simulation of biosensor systems.
Multifunctional Dual Gated Coupling Device Using Van Der Waals Ferroelectric Heterostructure
Authors: Jin Jiyou , Wang Zhongpu , Peng Zhisheng , Liu Hui , Peng Kang , Wei Haonan , Wang Yu , Xu Yushi , Wei Hang , Chu Weiguo , Li Yong Jun , Sun Lianfeng
Published: May 2022

2D ferroelectric materials have long attracted attention because of their switchable electrical polarization. However, it is still difficult to control the stability of the ferroelectric polarization. Here, ReS2, h‐BN, and 2D ferroelectric material α‐In2Se3 are combined to construct van der Waals heterostructure. The dual‐gated coupling configuration polarizes the ferroelectric α‐In2Se3 stably and effectively, allowing it to act as high‐performance nonvolatile memory, programmable rectifier, and negative capacitance field‐effect transistor. As nonvolatile memory, the device exhibits a large memory window (77%), large on/off ratio (>106), ultralow programming state current (≈10‐13 A), and long data retention (>104 s). As a programmable rectifier, the device can regulate rectification in a wide range of gate voltages with a large rectification ratio (3 × 105). When used as field‐effect transistor, the device demonstrates hysteresis‐free, the minimum sub‐threshold swing of 24.5 mV dec‐1 at room temperature. These results may inspire further development of ferroelectric van der Waals heterostructure devices.
Electric‐Field‐Tunable Bandgaps in the Inverse‐Designed Nanoporous Graphene/Graphene Heterobilayers
Authors: Lee Byeoksong , Kang Joongoo
Published: May 2022

The recent bottom‐up synthesis of atomically precise nanoporous graphene (NPG) offers a way of tuning graphene's properties by forming NPG/graphene (Grp) bilayers. Depending on the size, shape, and periodicity of the nanopores in NPG, the heterobilayers can exhibit various functionalities. This theoretical work presents an inverse design of NPG/Grp bilayers with electric‐field‐tunable bandgaps as a target property. The interlayer interaction in such heterobilayers can induce a bandgap in graphene either by breaking inversion symmetry (type I) or by moving and merging Dirac points of graphene (type II). The bandgap opening also requires electron–hole symmetry breaking induced by an applied perpendicular electric field, leading to two distinct, linear versus nonlinear, field dependences of the bandgap for the type‐I and type‐II cases, respectively. To translate the underlying physics of the bandgap opening in graphene into real atomic structures, the authors develop an inverse design method and find NPG/Grp bilayers with the target functionality. The field‐tunable bandgap in graphene, supported by first‐principles calculations for the inverse‐designed systems, holds promise for new types of graphene transistors.
Architectural effects regulate resource allocation within the inflorescences with nonlinear blooming patterns
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhang Zhi‐Qiang , Zhang Bo , Wang Li‐Ping , Guo Wen , Fang Ye , Li Qing‐Jun
Published: May 2022

Premise

Spatial and temporal resource allocations within inflorescences have been well‐studied in many plants based on flowering sequence or floral position. However, there had been few attempts to investigate architectural effects and resource competition in species where the blooming pattern does not follow a linear positional pattern within the inflorescence. Moreover, most flowering plants show female‐biased sex allocation in early or basal flowers, but it is unclear in species with inherent and changeless ovule production.

Methods

We investigated intra‐inflorescence variation in reproductive traits ofSalvia przewalskii, a perennial herb with 4‐ouvle ovary flowers and flowering sequence–floral position decoupled inflorescences. To detect the effects of resource competition and architectural effects on reproductive success, we manipulated inflorescence (removed floral buds by position and flowering sequence) and pollination (opened and supplemented pollination).

Results

Pollen production and dry mass deceased from bottom to top flowers but did not significantly differ following flowering sequence, resulting in male‐biased sex allocation in basal flowers. The seed production, fruit set, and bud development exhibited significant declining trends from proximal to distal positions regardless of the thinning and pollen treatments. Meanwhile, the seed production, fruit set, and bud development success did not significant differ when thinning was conducted according to flowering sequence.

Conclusions

Architectural effects plays a crucial role in resource allocation within decoupled flowering inflorescences. Moreover, our results highlighted that inherent floral traits such as changeless ovule production, may modify architectural effects on sex allocation.
Partial Restoration of Brain Dystrophin and Behavioral Deficits by Exon Skipping in the Muscular Dystrophy X‐Linked (mdx) Mouse
Authors: Zarrouki Faouzi , Relizani Karima , Bizot Flavien , Tensorer Thomas , Garcia Luis , Vaillend Cyrille , Goyenvalle Aurélie
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is associated with various degrees of cognitive impairment and behavioral disturbances. Emotional and memory deficits also constitute reliable outcome measures to assess efficacy of treatments in the mdx mouse lacking the muscle and neuronal full‐length dystrophins. The present study aimed to evaluate whether these deficits could be alleviated by the restoration of brain dystrophin.

Methods

We performed intracerebroventricular administration of a new potent tricyclo‐DNA antisense oligonucleotide (tcDNA‐ASO) containing a full phosphodiester backbone conjugated to a palmitic acid moiety (tcDNA‐ASO), designed to skip the mutated exon 23 of mdx mice.

Results

We first show that the tcDNA‐ASO rescues expression of brain dystrophin to 10–30% of wild‐type levels and significantly reduces the abnormal unconditioned fear responses in mdx mice in a dose‐dependent manner, 5 weeks post‐injection. Exon skipping efficiency, ASO biodistribution, protein restoration and effect on the fear response were optimal with a dose of 400 μg at 6–7 weeks post‐injection, with synaptic‐like expression in brain tissues such as the hippocampus and amygdala. Furthermore, this dose of tcDNA‐ASO restored long‐term memory retention of mdx mice in an object recognition task, but only had minor effects on fear conditioning.

Interpretation

These results suggest for the first time that postnatal re‐expression of brain dystrophin could reverse or at least alleviate some cognitive deficits associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:213–229
An Unusual Oxidative Rearrangement Catalyzed by a Divergent Member of the 2‐Oxoglutarate‐Dependent Dioxygenase Superfamily during Biosynthesis of Dehydrofosmidomycin
Authors: Parkinson Elizabeth I. , Lakkis Hani G. , Alwali Amir A. , Metcalf Mary Elizabeth M. , Modi Ramya , Metcalf William W.
Published: May 2022

The biosynthesis of the natural product dehydrofosmidomycin involves an unusual transformation in which 2‐(trimethylamino)ethylphosphonate is rearranged, desaturated and demethylated by the enzyme DfmD, a divergent member of the 2‐oxoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase superfamily. Although other members of this enzyme family catalyze superficially similar transformations, the combination of all three reactions in a single enzyme has not previously been observed. By characterizing the products of in vitro reactions with labeled and unlabeled substrates, we show that DfmD performs this transformation in two steps, with the first involving desaturation of the substrate to form 2‐(trimethylamino)vinylphosphonate, and the second involving rearrangement and demethylation to form methyldehydrofosmidomycin. These data reveal significant differences from the desaturation and rearrangement reactions catalyzed by other family members.
Bioinspired Metalation of the Metal‐Organic Framework MIL‐125‐NH2 for Photocatalytic NADH Regeneration and Gas‐Liquid‐Solid Three‐Phase Enzymatic CO2 Reduction
Authors: Lin Gang , Zhang Yuanyuan , Hua Yutao , Zhang Chunhui , Jia Changchao , Ju Dianxing , Yu Cunming , Li Peng , Liu Jian
Published: May 2022

Coenzyme NADH regeneration is crucial for sustained photoenzymatic catalysis of CO2 reduction. However, light‐driven NADH regeneration still suffers from the low regeneration efficiency and requires the use of a homogeneous Rh complex. Herein, a Rh complex‐based electron transfer unit was chemically attached onto the linker of the MIL‐125‐NH2. The coupling between the light‐harvesting iminopyridine unit and electron‐transferring Rh‐complex facilitated the photo‐induced electron transfer for the NADH regeneration with the yield of 66.4 % in 60 mins for 5 cycles. The formate dehydrogenase was further deposited onto the hydrophobic layer of the membrane by a reverse filtering technique, which forms the gas‐liquid‐solid reaction interface around the enzyme site. It gave an enhanced formic acid yield of 9.5 mM in 24 hours coupled with the in situ regenerated NADH. The work could shed light on the construction of integrated inorganic‐enzyme hybrid systems for artificial photosynthesis.
A Deep Eutectic Solvent Thermomorphic Multiphasic System for Biocatalytic Applications
Authors: Meyer Lars‐Erik , Andersen Mads Bruno , Kara Selin
Published: May 2022

The applicability of a thermomorphic multiphasic system (TMS) composed of a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (DES) and an aqueous potassium phosphate buffer with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase change for homogeneous biocatalysis was investigated. A lidocaine‐based DES with the fatty acid oleic acid as a hydrogen‐bond donor was studied. Phase diagrams were determined and presented within this study. We tested different additional components to the solvent system and observed a decrease in the cloud point of approximately 0.026 °C per concentration unit. Distribution studies revealed a clear distribution of the protein in the aqueous buffer phase (>95 %), whereas the hydrophobic substrate and educt accumulated (>95 %) in the DES‐enriched layer. Finally, a reduction catalyzed by horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase was performed in a larger‐scale experiment, and the biocatalyst could be recycled by simply removing the DES phase for three recycling runs.
Bioinspired Metalation of the Metal‐Organic Framework MIL‐125‐NH2for Photocatalytic NADH Regeneration and Gas‐Liquid‐Solid Three‐Phase Enzymatic CO2Reduction
Authors: Lin Gang , Zhang Yuanyuan , Hua Yutao , Zhang Chunhui , Jia Changchao , Ju Dianxing , Yu Cunming , Li Peng , Liu Jian
Published: May 2022

Coenzyme NADH regeneration is crucial for sustained photoenzymatic catalysis of CO2reduction. However, light‐driven NADH regeneration still suffers from the low regeneration efficiency and requires the use of a homogeneous Rh complex. Herein, a Rh complex‐based electron transfer unit was chemically attached onto the linker of the MIL‐125‐NH2. The coupling between the light‐harvesting iminopyridine unit and electron‐transferring Rh‐complex facilitated the photo‐induced electron transfer for the NADH regeneration with the yield of 66.4 % in 60 mins for 5 cycles. The formate dehydrogenase was further deposited onto the hydrophobic layer of the membrane by a reverse filtering technique, which forms the gas‐liquid‐solid reaction interface around the enzyme site. It gave an enhanced formic acid yield of 9.5 mM in 24 hours coupled with thein situregenerated NADH. The work could shed light on the construction of integrated inorganic‐enzyme hybrid systems for artificial photosynthesis.
Double C‐H bond functionalization for the annulative π‐extension of 1‐arylimidazoles: A palladium‐catalyzed one pot access to imidazo[1,5‐f]phenanthridines
Authors: Liu Linhao , Huang Hai‐Yun , Doucet Henri
Published: May 2022

The Pd‐catalyzed annulative π‐extension reaction of 1‐arylimidazoles for the one pot preparation of imidazo[1,5‐f]phenanthridines was explored. The higher reactivity of imidazole C5‐H bond compared to C2‐H bond of imidazoles for Pd‐catalyzed direct arylation in the presence of carboxylate bases allows the selective synthesis of imidazo[1,5‐f]phenanthridines. The reaction proceeds via successive palladium‐catalyzed direct intermolecular C5‐arylation of the imidazole unit followed by an intramolecular direct arylation step. This synthetic pathway allowed us to describe the first synthesis of imidazo[1,5‐f]phenanthridine. Moreover, by using the appropriate substrates, the introduction of desired functional groups at positions 5, 7, 10, and 11 of imidazo[1,5‐f]phenanthridines is possible.
Phosphorus/nitrogen compound and zinc hydroxystannate‐modified graphene oxide for efficient flame retardancy and smoke suppression of epoxy resin
Authors: Wang Hongni , He Zhongjie , Wang Yudeng , Zhang Zhilin , Li Xiaoqian , Wang Dechao , Su Fangfang , Yao Dongdong , Zheng Yaping
Published: May 2022

Despite many important industrial applications, epoxy resin (EP) suffers from high flammability and toxicity emission. To circumvent the problem, phosphorus/nitrogen compound and zinc hydroxystannate‐modified graphene oxide is successfully fabricated. The functionalized graphene (FGO) exhibits high thermal stability and excellent dispersity in the EP matrix. The storage modulus of EP/FGO2 increases to 2713 MPa from 2176 MPa. Meanwhile, the results show a significant reduction in fire, smoke, and toxicity hazards. Compared with pure EP, incorporating only 2.0 wt% FGO2 into EP, smoke production rate, the peak heat release rate, and peak carbon monoxide production are dramatically reduced by 40.1%, 40.3%, and 37.7%, respectively. Especially, the fire growth index of EP/FGO2 is reduced by 36.0%. Moreover, the limiting oxygen index value of EP/FGO2 enhances to 28.5% and its UL‐94 achieves V‐1 rating. These superior fire safety properties are due to the catalytic, barrier effect of the FGO, the compact char blocks the diffusion of smoke and heat during combustion. This work provides an efficient strategy to prepare a promising graphene‐based flame retardant to improve the fire safety and mechanical property of EP.
Synthesis, density functional theory calculation, molecular docking studies, and evaluation of novel 5‐nitrothiophene derivatives for anticancer activity
Authors: Nuha Demokrat , Evren Asaf E. , Çiyanci Zennure Ş. , Temel Halide E. , Akalin Çiftçi Gülşen , Yurttaş Leyla
Published: May 2022

Within the scope of this study, new 2‐{2‐[(5‐nitrothiophen‐2‐yl)methylene]hydrazinyl}thiazole derivatives (2a–j) were synthesized and investigated for their potential anticancer and enzyme inhibition activities. Spectroscopic techniques were used to determine the structures of substances. The anticancer activities of compounds were detected in A549 human lung carcinoma and L929 murine fibroblast cell lines, determining cytotoxicity, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane integrity, and caspase‐3 activation. Compounds 2b bearing 4‐nitrophenyl, 2c bearing phenyl, and 2d bearing 4‐cyanophenyl moieties were specified with high anticancer activity, acting through an apoptotic pathway with an apoptosis ratio of 9.61%–15.59%. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization was determined to be 25.53% and 22.33% for compounds 2b and 2c, respectively. Furthermore, compound 2c exhibited excellent caspase‐3 activation. A molecular docking study was realized with compound 2c on the caspase‐3 enzyme. Furthermore, the electronic characteristics of the active compounds were investigated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6‐31G (d, p) level. The frontier molecular orbital energy and atomic net charges were examined.