bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation of Hot Isostatic Pressing in a Single‐Crystal Ni Base Superalloy with the Theory of Continuously Distributed Dislocations Combined with Vacancy Diffusion
Authors: Feldmann Titus , Fedelich Bernard , Epishin Alexander
Published: December 2021

Single‐crystal components made of nickel base superalloys contain pores after casting and homogenization heat treatment. Hot isostatic pressing (HIP), which is carried above the ‐solvus temperature of the alloy, is industrially applied to reduce porosity. A modeling of HIP based on continuously distributed dislocations is developed in a 2D setting. Glide and climb of straight‐edge dislocations, as well as vacancy diffusion, are the deformation mechanisms taken into account. Thereby, dislocation glide is controlled by dragging a cloud of large atoms, and climb is controlled by vacancy diffusion. Relying on previous investigations of the creep behavior at HIP temperatures, it is assumed that new dislocations are nucleated at low‐angle boundaries (LAB) and move through subgrains until they either reach the opposite LABs or react with other dislocations and annihilate. Vacancies are created at the pore surface and diffuse through the alloy until they are either consumed by climbing dislocations or disappear at the LABs. The field equations are solved by finite elements. It is shown that pore shrinking is mostly controlled by vacancy diffusion as the shear stresses at the LABs are too low to nucleate a sufficient amount of dislocations.
Graphene‐Based Opto‐Thermoelectric Tweezers
Authors: Wang Xianyou , Yuan Yunqi , Xie Xi , Zhang Yuquan , Min Changjun , Yuan Xiaocong
Published: December 2021

Since the discovery of graphene, its excellent physical properties have greatly improved the performance of optoelectronic devices and brought important technological advances to optical research and its applications. Here, graphene is introduced to the field of optical‐tweezer technology and demonstrate a new graphene‐based opto‐thermoelectric tweezer. This technology not only reduces the incident light energy required by two orders of magnitude (compared with traditional optical tweezers), it also brings new advantages such as a much broader working bandwidth and a larger working area compared to those of widely researched gold‐film‐based opto‐thermoelectric tweezers. Compared with gold film, graphene exhibits higher thermal conductivity and higher uniformity and is easier to process. Thus, it is found that even monolayer graphene provides stable trapping for particles in a broad bandwidth and that performance is enhanced as the number of graphene layers increases. Furthermore, parallel trap multiple particles as desired shapes can be easily generated with structured graphene patterns. This work demonstrates the enormous application potential of graphene in optical‐tweezer technology and will promote their application to the trapping or concentration of cells and biomolecules as well as to microfluidics and biosensors.
Designable Micro‐/Nano‐Structured Smart Polymeric Materials
Authors: Wang Wei , Li Ping‐Fan , Xie Rui , Ju Xiao‐Jie , Liu Zhuang , Chu Liang‐Yin
Published: December 2021

Smart polymeric materials with dynamically tunable physico‐chemical characteristics in response to changes of environmental stimuli, have received considerable attention in myriad fields. The diverse combination of their micro‐/nano‐structural and molecular designs creates promising and exciting opportunities for exploiting advanced smart polymeric materials. Engineering micro‐/nano‐structures into smart polymeric materials with elaborate molecular design enables intricate coordination between their structures and molecular‐level response to cooperatively realize smart functions for practical applications. In this review, recent progresses of smart polymeric materials that combine micro‐/nano‐structures and molecular design to achieve designed advanced functions are highlighted. Smart hydrogels, gating membranes, gratings, milli‐particles, micro‐particles and microvalves are employed as typical examples to introduce their design and fabrication strategies. Meanwhile, the key roles of interplay between their micro‐/nano‐structures and responsive properties to realize the desired functions for their applications are emphasized. Finally, perspectives on the current challenges and opportunities of micro‐/nano‐structured smart polymeric materials for their future development are presented.
Flexible Electronics and Devices as Human–Machine Interfaces for Medical Robotics
Authors: Heng Wenzheng , Solomon Samuel , Gao Wei
Published: December 2021

Medical robots are invaluable players in non‐pharmaceutical treatment of disabilities. Particularly, using prosthetic and rehabilitation devices with human–machine interfaces can greatly improve the quality of life for impaired patients. In recent years, flexible electronic interfaces and soft robotics have attracted tremendous attention in this field due to their high biocompatibility, functionality, conformability, and low‐cost. Flexible human–machine interfaces on soft robotics will make a promising alternative to conventional rigid devices, which can potentially revolutionize the paradigm and future direction of medical robotics in terms of rehabilitation feedback and user experience. In this review, the fundamental components of the materials, structures, and mechanisms in flexible human‐machine interfaces are summarized by recent and renowned applications in five primary areas: physical and chemical sensing, physiological recording, information processing and communication, soft robotic actuation, and feedback stimulation. This review further concludes by discussing the outlook and current challenges of these technologies as a human–machine interface in medical robotics.
Photoresponsive Vaccine‐Like CAR‐M System with High‐Efficiency Central Immune Regulation for Inflammation‐Related Depression
Authors: Liu Yu , Hu Ping , Zheng Zhiheng , Zhong Da , Xie Weichang , Tang Zhibo , Pan Bingxing , Luo Jun , Zhang Wenhua , Wang Xiaolei
Published: December 2021

Increasing evidence suggests that activation of microglia‐induced neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of depression. Consequently, targeting the central nervous system to reduce neuroinflammation holds great promise for the treatment of depression. However, few drugs can enter the brain via a circulatory route through the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to reach the central nervous system efficiently, which limits the pharmacological treatment for neuropsychiatric diseases. Herein, a light‐responsive system named UZPM, consisting of blue‐emitting NaYF4:Yb, Tm@zeolitic‐imidazolate framework (UCNP@ZIF‐8), photoacid (PA), and melatonin (MT) is developed to address the above issues. Meanwhile, UZPM is introduced into macrophages by functional liposomes fusion and modified with hydroxylamine groups on the cell surface. Aldehyde‐modified cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated protein‐4 (CTLA‐4) is used as a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting group to modify the surface of macrophages by aldehyde/hydroxylamine condensation to precisely target central M1‐type microglia (CAR‐M‐UZPM). Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that the CAR‐M‐UZPM drug delivery system can efficiently penetrate the BBB, targeting centrally activated microglia, and thus, inhibiting the M1‐type polarization of microglia, producing continuous vaccine‐like anti‐inflammatory effects that prevent the occurrence and development of inflammation‐related depression.
Factors impacting the rapid transition of anatomy curricula to an online environment in response to Covid‐19
Authors: Bauler Laura D. , Lesciotto Kate M. , Lackey‐Cornelison Wendy
Published: December 2021

Due to the Covid‐19 pandemic, many academic institutions had to rapidly transition education to a remote online environment. While a hurdle for most educators, this transition posed an even greater challenge for anatomy educators, many of whom were forced to depart from the traditional cadaver‐based laboratory to a virtual format. Recent publications have discussed the rapid transition to online formats necessitated by Covid‐19 and the accompanying difficulties, but none have identified specific factors that influenced the difficulty of this transition. Anatomy educators were surveyed to examine how this transition was accomplished and perceived. Of the 165 educators who responded, the majority utilized cadaver‐based laboratory instruction. Educators felt that transitioning the laboratory portion of their courses was significantly more difficult and required more time than converting lecture materials. Factors that impacted the difficulty of the transition included a number of pedagogical aspects of the pre‐Covid‐19 curricula, including the delivery format of prior content, availability of pre‐existing electronic materials, and the laboratory technique previously used. Additionally, the length of time an educator had been teaching prior to Covid‐19 impacted their perception of difficulty, with newer and more senior educators finding this much more challenging than mid‐tenure educators. Ease of transition may be related to previous exposure to curricular reform, experience with multiple anatomy pedagogies, and educator adaptability. While not surprising that converting a cadaver‐based laboratory to an online format was challenging, knowledge of the alignment of this difficulty with prior educator pedagogy can help guide future innovations to anatomy education.
Experimental investigations on sugarcane bagasse pyrolytic oil production from flash pyrolysis using a rotary screw reactor
Authors: Ayyadurai Saravanakumar , Arunachalam Kantha Deivi
Published: December 2021

A rotary screw pyro‐oil reactor was designed for powdery biomass for a feeding capacity of 40 kg h−1 with a moisture content of <10%. The pyro‐oil reactor temperature was maintained at 450–550 °C. The pyro‐oil vapors produced were quickly drafted out of the reactor for quenching to yield 16–24 L h−1 from 40 kg h−1 of biomass feed. The flash‐pyrolysis technique, which is capable of directly turning biomass into a liquid fuel, was used to produce liquid fuel (bio‐oil). It was carried out at a pressure at 0.03 bar and at a medium temperature of about 550 °C. The flash‐pyrolysis technique converts the entire biomass matter, excluding the ash. In this method the powdery biomass is converted into three components: bio‐oil (the yield is typically 70% on an energy basis, a powdery biomass feed at a moisture content of 10%); pyrolysis gas (typical yield 14%) and char (typical yield 16%). The temperature of the fixed bed was adjusted in the experiment, but the other variables remained constant, such as the amount of feed, the pyrolysis time of the gas product, the reactor pressure and the bed height. A biomass particle size range of 1–3 mm and a biomass residence time of 20 s in the reactor resulted in optimal bio‐oil production of 70%. This work demonstrated how precise pyrolysis mechanism processes and bio‐oil yields can influence the maximal reaction temperature in the 450–550 °C range. The performance analysis reveals that the fixed bed reaction temperatures of biomass rapid pyrolysis give reliable control over the bio‐oil reactor type and size. This paper provides an overview of the design and thermochemical liquefaction process used to convert powdered biomass to biofuel. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Whole‐cell biocatalysis: Advancements toward the biosynthesis of fuels
Authors: Madavi Tanushree Baldeo , Chauhan Sushma , Keshri Anushri , Alavilli Hemasundar , Choi Kwon‐Young , Pamidimarri Sudheer D. V. N.
Published: December 2021

The availability of robust microbial systems has facilitated the implementation of greener technology replacing existing less sustainable chemical technologies. Whole‐cell biocatalysis has empowered the biological production of chemicals and biofuels, replacing labor‐intensive traditional chemical catalysis. Whole‐cell biocatalysis offers new avenues to use sustainable raw/waste biomass as a substrate for biotransformation into industrially important compounds. Using a native or non‐native microbial cell system as a chassis for developing a suitable cell catalyst requires multiple‐level adjustments owing to the target product. Enzymes, the critical entity of biocatalysis, are an important factor influencing biocatalysis efficiency; whole cells provide optimal conditions to the enzymes or enzyme cascades for maximum productivity. Advancements in system biology and metabolic engineering techniques have led to the rational design of whole‐cell catalysts for the suitable production of green fuels. Traditional enzyme catalysts are limited by issues such as enzyme stability and repeatability, laborious downstream processing and enzyme production technicalities, but whole‐cell biocatalysis could bypass those bottlenecks. Thus, the application of whole cells in the catalysis and production of fuels has progressed greatly in the past couple of decades. This review focuses on detailing the concept of whole‐cell biocatalysis and its advances in the production of biofuels such as alcohols and fatty acid‐based, terpenoid‐derived and carbon‐free fuels. The technical advancements in various hosts such as Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Corynebacterium glutamicum and Synechococcus elongatus to establish whole‐cell biocatalysis are summarized. In addition, system engineering toward the optimum production of various biofuels is added to the discussion. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Interventions supporting health‐related routines for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A systematic literature review
Authors: St. Joseph Stephanie , Machalicek Wendy
Published: December 2021

This systematic literature review evaluates research on interventions to increase successful participation in medical procedures and health‐promoting routines by children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Electronic database searches of Eric, PsycInfo, and MEDLINE and ancestral review were conducted to identify studies published between 1968 and 2020. Across the 24 studies meeting inclusion criteria, a variety of behavioral interventions have been implemented to prevent or decrease challenging behavior and increase participation during medical procedures and health‐promoting routines. The results are discussed in relation to (a) participants and intervention setting, (b) intervention procedures and targeted behavior, (c) the rigor of the study methodology according to Reichow's Evaluative Method, and (d) outcomes including magnitude of intervention effect. Findings demonstrate that dental or medical examinations, blood draws, toothbrushing, and handwashing were the most often targeted procedures or routines. Behavioral intervention packages including strategies such as video‐modeling and positive reinforcement were generally effective in increasing successful completion of medical procedures and health promoting routines. However, most studies have focused on early childhood and fail to reflect the support and educational needs of individuals with IDD across the lifespan. We discuss future research directions.
Client–therapist closeness–distance dynamics as a pathway for understanding changes in the alliance during psychodynamic therapy
Authors: Egozi Sharon , Tishby Orya , Wiseman Hadas
Published: December 2021

This study examines how changes in clients’ and their therapists’ perceptions of the therapeutic distance relate to changes in their reported alliance. Alliance is commonly measured using self‐report questionnaires that provide information regarding the partners’ bond and collaboration, but do not reflect the interactions or events underlining them. We developed the Observer Version of the Therapeutic Distance Scale (TDS‐O; Egozi et al., 2020) to assess components of the therapeutic relationship, including closeness–distance dynamics, autonomy and engagement. Sixty‐seven clients and their 27 therapists completed the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) and underwent Relationship Anecdote Paradigm (RAP) interviews in which they related narratives about their experiences with each other three times during psychodynamic therapy (after sessions 5, 15 and 28). The clients’ and their therapists’ narratives were rated on the TDS‐O. Clients’ and therapists’ decrease in their sense that the partner was too distant correlated with WAI increase, as did therapists’ decrease in their opinion that the client was too close. Increases in both partners’ engagement was also related to WAI increase. A clinical example of a successful case demonstrates these changes and highlights significant moments that might contribute to positive change. The study establishes the relationship between the alliance and therapeutic distance, and reveals discrepancies in the experiences of clients and therapists. Tracking therapeutic distance has the potential to refine therapists’ attunement to their clients’ emotional needs.
Ribosome ADP‐ribosylation: A mechanism for maintaining protein homeostasis in cancers
Authors: Ni Jie , Gao Jiayin , Li Qin
Published: December 2021

A recent study suggests that ribosome MARylation in cancers maintains proteostasis by reducing protein synthesis and preventing toxic protein aggregation. Mechanistically, NMNAT‐2 is a cytosolic NAD+ synthase that supports the catalytic activity of PARP‐16, which mediates ribosomal proteins MARylation. Ribosomal protein MARylation regulates polysomes assembly or function through the 3′‐untranslated region (3′‐UTR) stem‐loop secondary structures in mRNAs, resulting in reduced protein synthesis and preventing toxic protein aggregation, thus supporting the growth of cancer cells during accelerated cell growth. When PARP‐16 or NMNAT‐2 is deleted, the stem‐loop element in the 3′‐UTRs of mRNAs increases polysome loading, enhances protein synthesis, promotes toxic protein aggregation, leading to inhibited cancer cell growth. Collectively, ribosome MARylation provides us with an exciting and scientific direction for us to understand cancers.
Corn productivity and profitability in raised stale seedbed systems with and without cover crops
Authors: Spencer Gene Dave , Krutz Larry Jason , Locke Martin , Gholson Drew M. , Bryant Corey , Mills Brian E. , Henry William Brien , Golden Bobby
Published: December 2021

Cover crops are promoted for reducing the negative environmental effects of high‐input row‐crop production; however, cover crop adoption in the mid‐southern United States is low, partly because of a perceived increase in risk. The objective of this research was to determine if cover crops cost‐effectively improved the productivity and water use of corn (Zea mays L.) in raised stale seedbed systems. The effects of four cover crops, namely Austrian winter pea [Pisum sativum var. arvense (L.) Poiret], crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), cereal rye (Secale cereal L.), and tillage radish (Raphanus sativus L.), in a raised stale seedbed environment on corn grain yield, net returns, and water use efficiency (WUE) were investigated at Stoneville, MS, on a Commerce very fine sandy loam soil (fine‐silty, mixed, superactive, nonacid, thermic Fluvaquentic Endoaquept). A cover crop preceding corn maintained or decreased yield, net returns, and WUE. Cover crops had no effect on corn grain yield in any year, except for 2017, in which Austrian winter pea and cereal rye decreased yield by 37 and 45%, respectively. Tillage radish never affected net returns; however, the inclusion of Austrian winter pea, crimson clover, or cereal rye reduced net returns by up to 57% in two of four years. Cover crops either maintained or decreased WUE by up to 44%. In the 4 yr of this research, the inclusion of a cover crop in a raised stale seedbed system only maintained or decreased corn grain yield, net returns, and WUE.
Recovering the underlying trajectory from sparse and irregular longitudinal data
Authors: Nie Yunlong , Yang Yuping , Wang Liangliang , Cao Jiguo
Published: December 2021

In this article, we consider the problem of recovering the underlying trajectory when the longitudinal data are sparsely and irregularly observed and noise‐contaminated. Such data are popularly analyzed with functional principal component analysis via the principal analysis by conditional estimation (PACE) method. The PACE method may sometimes be numerically unstable because it involves the inverse of the covariance matrix. We propose a sparse orthonormal approximation (SOAP) method as an alternative. It estimates the optimal empirical basis functions in the best approximation framework rather than eigen‐decomposing the covariance function. The SOAP method avoids estimating the mean and covariance function, which is challenging when the assembled time points with observations for all subjects are not sufficiently dense. The method also avoids the inverse of the covariance matrix, hence the computation is more stable. It does not require the functional principal component scores to follow the Gaussian distribution. We show that the SOAP estimate for the optimal empirical basis function is asymptotically consistent. The finite‐sample performance of the SOAP method is investigated in simulation studies in comparison with the PACE method. Our method is demonstrated by recovering the CD4 percentage curves from sparse and irregular data in a multi‐centre AIDS cohort study.
Simple, Economical Methods for the Culture of Green Algae for Energy Harvesting from Photosynthesis in a Microfluidic Environment
Authors: Kuruvinashetti Kiran , Rahimi Soroush , Pakkiriswami Shanmugasundaram , Packirisamy Muthukumaran
Published: December 2021

Ongoing technological advancements continually increase the demand for energy. Among various types of energy harvesting systems, biologically based systems have been an area of increasing interest for the past couple of decades. Such systems provide clean, safe power solutions, mainly for low‐ and ultra‐low‐power applications. The microphotosynthetic power cell (μPSC) is one such system that make use of photosynthetic living cells or organisms to generate power. For strong performance, μPSC technology, because of its interdisciplinary nature, requires optimal engineering of both electrochemical cell design and the culture conditions of the photosynthetic microorganisms. We present here a simple, economical culture method for the photosynthetic microorganism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii suitable for the application of this biologically based power system in any geographical location. This article provides a series of protocols for preparing materials and culture medium designed to facilitate the culture of a suitable C. reinhardtii strain even in a non‐biological laboratory. Possible challenges and methods to overcome them are also discussed. Cultured C. reinhardtii perform sufficiently well that they have already been successfully utilized to generate power from a μPSC, generating a peak power of 200 μW from just 2 ml of exponential‐phase algal culture in a μPSC with an active electrode surface area of 4.84 cm2. The μPSC thus has potentially broad applications in low‐ and ultra‐low‐power devices and sensors. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

This article was corrected on 26 July 2022. See the end of the full text for details.

Basic Protocol 1: Algal growth conditions and algal growth chamber fabrication

Basic Protocol 2: Preparation of Tris‐acetate‐phosphate (TAP) nutrient medium

Basic Protocol 3: Preparation of suspension algal culture from algal strain

Basic Protocol 4: Preparation of stock culture plates (algal strain) from suspension algal culture
How to translate the knowledge of COVID‐19 into prevention of Omicron variants
Authors: Wang Xiangdong , Powell Charles A.
Published: December 2021

Omicron variants are part of the “COVID‐19 variants of concerns” and have the potential to spread around the world rapidly and can harm human life. We can anticipate that the endemic state of COVID‐19 will be characterized by development of new strains with surges that will predominate in unvaccinated and immunodeficient populations. Thus, there will be an important role for promoting vaccinations, boosters and accessible testing to prevent disease transmission and to rapidly detect surges. There is an urgent need to explore the virology and biology of Omicron variants, define clinical phenomes and therapies, monitor dynamics of genetic changes and translate the knowledge of COVID‐19 into new variants. Clinical and translational medicine will be impactful in addressing these challenges by providing new insights for understanding and predicting new variants‐associated transmissibility, disease severity, immune escape, diagnostic, or therapeutic failure.
Blunted sFasL signalling exacerbates TNF‐driven neutrophil necroptosis in critically ill COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Schweizer Tiziano A , Mairpady Shambat Srikanth , Vulin Clement , Hoeller Sylvia , Acevedo Claudio , Huemer Markus , Gomez‐Mejia Alejandro , Chang Chun‐Chi , Baum Jeruscha , Hertegonne Sanne , Hitz Eva , Scheier Thomas C , Hofmaenner Daniel A , Buehler Philipp K , Moch Holger , Schuepbach Reto A , Brugger Silvio D , Zinkernagel Annelies S
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients are characterised by a severely dysregulated cytokine profile and elevated neutrophil counts, impacting disease severity. However, it remains unclear how neutrophils contribute to pathophysiology during COVID‐19. Here, we assessed the impact of the dysregulated cytokine profile on the regulated cell death (RCD) programme of neutrophils.

Methods

Regulated cell death phenotype of neutrophils isolated from critically ill COVID‐19 patients or healthy donors and stimulated with COVID‐19 or healthy plasma ex vivo was assessed by flow cytometry, time‐lapse microscopy and cytokine multiplex analysis. Immunohistochemistry of COVID‐19 patients and control biopsies were performed to assess the in situ neutrophil RCD phenotype. Plasma cytokine levels of COVID‐19 patients and healthy donors were measured by multiplex analysis. Clinical parameters were correlated to cytokine levels of COVID‐19 patients.

Results

COVID‐19 plasma induced a necroptosis‐sensitive neutrophil phenotype, characterised by cell lysis, elevated release of damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), increased receptor‐interacting serine/threonine‐protein kinase (RIPK) 1 levels and mixed lineage kinase domain‐like pseudokinase (MLKL) involvement. The occurrence of neutrophil necroptosis MLKL axis was further confirmed in COVID‐19 thrombus and lung biopsies. Necroptosis was induced by the tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFRI)/TNF‐α axis. Moreover, reduction of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) levels in COVID‐19 patients and hence decreased signalling to Fas directly increased RIPK1 levels, exacerbated TNF‐driven necroptosis and correlated with disease severity, which was abolished in patients treated with glucocorticoids.

Conclusion

Our results suggest a novel role for sFasL signalling in the TNF‐α‐induced RCD programme in neutrophils during COVID‐19 and a potential therapeutic target to curb inflammation and thus influence disease severity and outcome.
The unexpected contribution of conventional type 1 dendritic cells in driving antibody responses
Authors: Steiner Thiago M , Heath William R , Caminschi Irina
Published: December 2021

Antibodies are hallmarks of most effective vaccines. For successful T‐dependent antibody responses, conventional dendritic cells (cDC) have been largely attributed the role of priming T cells. By contrast, follicular dendritic cells and macrophages have been seen as responsible for B cell activation, due to their strategic location within secondary lymphoid tissues and capacity to present native antigen to B cells. This review summarizes the mounting evidence that cDC can also present native antigen to B cells. cDC2 have been the main subset linked to humoral responses, based largely on their favorable location, capacity to prime CD4+ T cells, and ability to present native antigen to B cells. However, studies using strategies to deliver antigen to receptors on cDC1, reveal this subset can also contribute to naïve B cell activation, as well as T cell priming. cDC1 location within lymphoid tissues reveals their juxtaposition to B cell follicles, with ready access to B cells for presentation of native antigen. These findings support the view that both cDC1 and cDC2 are capable of initiating humoral responses provided antigen is captured by relevant surface receptors attuned to this process. Such understanding is fundamental for the development of innovative humoral vaccination approaches.
Passive solute separation in AC electroosmosis including surface charge‐coupled hydrodynamic slip effects
Authors: Huang Hsin‐Fu , Kuo Ju‐En , Huang Kun‐Hao
Published: December 2021

Separation of electrically neutral, mutually noninteracting passive solutes via AC electroosmotic slit channel flows is investigated for general asymmetric wall surface zeta potentials and apparent hydrodynamic slip lengths. We consider the nontrivial coupling between the surface potentials (or charge densities) and the apparent slip lengths, and focus our attention on the occurrence of a so called “crossover phenomenon” for separating out the slow diffusers when both slow and fast diffusers are present. Results show that regardless of the potential‐slip coupling, wider bandwidths become available for crossover phenomenon to occur when the electroosmotic velocity gradient (magnitude) is greater. Contrarily, plug‐like velocity profiles inhibit crossover phenomenon, and the potential‐slip parametric combinations leading to such profiles can be easily identified by the conditions for minimal transport enhancement reported in recent literature. When separating out the slow diffuser or crossover phenomenon is desired, we recommend incorporating significant asymmetry in the surface potential and apparent slip boundary conditions such that the operating frequency and flow oscillation amplitude may be lowered to more practical values. Our results also agree with and strengthen the physical picture for explaining crossover phenomenon in macroscopic pressure‐driven oscillatory flows.
Paper‐based open microfluidic platform for protein electrophoresis and immunoprobing
Authors: Hennig Stefan , Shu Zhe , Gutzweiler Ludwig , Koltay Peter , von Stetten Felix , Zengerle Roland , Früh Susanna M.
Published: December 2021

Protein electrophoresis and immunoblotting are indispensable analytical tools for the characterization of proteins and posttranslational modifications in complex sample matrices. Owing to the lack of automation, commonly employed slab‐gel systems suffer from high time demand, significant sample/antibody consumption, and limited reproducibility. To overcome these limitations, we developed a paper‐based open microfluidic platform for electrophoretic protein separation and subsequent transfer to protein‐binding membranes for immunoprobing. Electrophoresis microstructures were digitally printed into cellulose acetate membranes that provide mechanical stability while maintaining full accessibility of the microstructures for consecutive immunological analysis. As a proof‐of‐concept, we demonstrate separation of fluorescently labeled marker proteins in a wide molecular weight range (15–120 kDa) within only 15 min, reducing the time demand for the entire workflow (from sample preparation to immunoassay) to approximately one hour. Sample consumption was reduced 10‐ to 150‐fold compared to slab‐gel systems, owing to system miniaturization. Moreover, we successfully applied the paper‐based approach to complex samples such as crude bacterial cell extracts. We envisage that this platform will find its use in protein analysis workflows for scarce and precious samples, providing a unique opportunity to extract profound immunological information from limited sample amounts in a fast fashion with minimal hands‐on time.
Capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry as a tool for the noninvasive target metabolomic analysis of underivatized amino acids for evaluating embryo viability in assisted reproduction
Authors: Skrutková Langmajerová Monika , Pelcová Marta , Vedrová Pavla , Celá Andrea , Glatz Zdeněk
Published: December 2021

Monitoring metabolite uptake and excretion in the culture medium is a noninvasive technique that is used for the metabolic study of cleaving embryos after in vitro fertilization. Low sample consumption, the versatility of the detection, and optimal sensitivity and selectivity are essential elements for extracellular metabolome analyses, and can be conveniently achieved by combining CE with mass spectrometric detection. This paper reports a method for amino acid determination in a limited volume sample (8 μL) of spent culture media collected after the cultivation of in vitro fertilized embryos. Special attention was focused on the sample preparation procedure. The sample was processed with acetonitrile, which facilitates online sample preconcentration via field‐amplified sample stacking, and undesired sample evaporation was significantly reduced by the simultaneous addition of dimethyl sulfoxide. Key parameters that affected electrophoretic separation and mass spectrometric detection were investigated, including the type of buffers and organic solvent, optimization of their concentrations, and finally the settings for their ionization. The separation and quantification of 19 amino acids were achieved using 15% acetic acid as the background electrolyte with a sheath liquid consisting of an equimolar mixture of methanol and water. The applicability of the optimized system was demonstrated by determining the amino acid profile in 40 samples of spent cultivation medium in this pilot study. This developed method also has great potential for amino acid analyses in minute sample volumes of other biological matrices.
Various methodologies to improve the energy efficiency of a compressed air energy storage system
Authors: Mitra Subholagno , Mahato Anil C. , Nag Abhijit , Kumar Dharmendra
Published: December 2021

Intermittency characteristic of renewable energy sources can be resolved using an energy storage technology. The function of the energy storage system is to store the excess energy that is produced from various renewable energy sources during the off‐peak hours and releases the same energy during the peak hours. The energy that is produced from the renewable energy sources can be stored in different forms such asMechanical, Electrical, Electrochemical, Thermal, Chemical energyetc. Among all these forms of stored energy, a CAES technology under theMechanicalform of energy is the most cost effective for the bulk energy storage purpose. It involves a combined operation of various components such as Compressor/Expander, Gas turbine, combustion chambers, heat exchangers, generator unit, and underground compressed air storage. This article focuses to review the detail of various CAES systems such as D‐CAES, A‐CAES, I‐CAES etc. Additionally, it presents various technologies that are used to improve the energy efficiency and applicability of the CAES system. It is found that a maximum RTE of the C‐CAES, A‐CAES, and I‐CAES are 54%, 71%, and 80%, respectively. In addition, the RTE of the modified CAES systems such as LP‐CAES, PH‐CAES, and SC‐CAES are about 90%, 80%, and 60 to 80%, respectively.
Historical data of geoelectric field observations in Japan
Authors: Nagamachi Shingo , Arita Shin , Hirota Eiji
Published: December 2021

The Kakioka Magnetic Observatory (KMO) of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) made geoelectric field observations at Kakioka, Memambetsu and Kanoya from 1932, 1949 and 1948, respectively, until February 2021, when observations at all three sites were terminated. The digital numerical data are available on the KMO website, although not all observation periods are covered. In this article, we introduce the available datasets and summarize the metadata regarding the observations, such as the electrodes, recording system, maintenance methods and data processing.
Novel low‐avidity glypican‐3 specific CARTs resist exhaustion and mediate durable antitumor effects against HCC
Authors: Caraballo Galva Leidy D. , Jiang Xiaotao , Hussein Mohamed S. , Zhang Huajun , Mao Rui , Brody Pierce , Peng Yibing , He Aiwu Ruth , Kehinde‐Ige Mercy , Sadek Ramses , Qiu Xiangguo , Shi Huidong , He Yukai
Published: December 2021

Background and Aims

Chimeric antigen receptor engineered T cells (CARTs) for HCC and other solid tumors are not as effective as they are for blood cancers. CARTs may lose function inside tumors due to persistent antigen engagement. The aims of this study are to develop low‐affinity monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and low‐avidity CARTs for HCC and to test the hypothesis that low‐avidity CARTs can resist exhaustion and maintain functions in solid tumors, generating durable antitumor effects.

Methods and Results

New human glypican‐3 (hGPC3) mAbs were developed from immunized mice. We obtained three hGPC3‐specific mAbs that stained HCC tumors, but not the adjacent normal liver tissues. One of them, 8F8, bound an epitope close to that of GC33, the frequently used high‐affinity mAb, but with approximately 17‐fold lower affinity. We then compared the 8F8 CARTs to GC33 CARTs for their in vitro function and in vivo antitumor effects. In vitro, low‐avidity 8F8 CARTs killed both hGPC3high and hGPC3low HCC tumor cells to the same extent as high‐avidity GC33 CARTs. 8F8 CARTs expanded and persisted to a greater extent than GC33 CARTs, resulting in durable responses against HCC xenografts. Importantly, compared with GC33 CARTs, there were 5‐fold more of 8F8‐BBz CARTs in the tumor mass for a longer period of time. Remarkably, the tumor‐infiltrating 8F8 CARTs were less exhausted and apoptotic, and more functional than GC33 CARTs.

Conclusion

The low‐avidity 8F8‐BBz CART resists exhaustion and apoptosis inside tumor lesions, demonstrating a greater therapeutic potential than high‐avidity CARTs.
Identifying factors affecting dentists retention in deprived areas in Iran
Authors: Amiresmaeili Mohammadreza , Jamebozorgi Majid Heidari , Jamebozorgi Azam Heidari
Published: December 2021

Background

One of the concerns of health managers in regard to improving the oral health of residents in deprived areas is to increase the tendency of dentists to stay in those areas. The purpose of this study was to explore factors affecting the intention of dentists to stay in deprived areas.

Methods

The present qualitative study was carried out using semi‐structured interviews. We interviewed 22 informants (4 oral health managers and 18 dentists) who were identified purposefully. Informants were asked what factors affecting retention in remote and deprived areas. Content analysis through the 7‐step Colaizzi approach was used for data analysis.

Results

Fifteen subthemes under five themes of individual factors, the development level of the region, social and cultural factors, financial issues, and managerial and organizational factors were identified as factors affecting tendency of dentist to stay and work in deprived areas.

Conclusion

According to the results of our study, health policymakers and managers should focus on culture and attitudes of the residents, Provision of financial incentives, structural problems and underdevelopment of the region, and high workload to increase the tendency of dentists to stay in remote and deprived areas.
Global health workforce research: Comparative analyses of the scientific publication trends in PubMed
Authors: Jesus Tiago S. , Castellini Greta , Gianola Silvia
Published: December 2021

Aim

To analyse the amount of Human Resources for Health (HRH) research publication trends [1990–2019], compared to the broader health policy, systems, and services research (HPSSR).

Methods

PubMed and its indexation system with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) are used for this time‐trend study. Searches combine MeSH terms for research publications and HPSSR or HRH subjects, except education. Sub‐group searches are conducted on: funding support, and high‐ versus low‐ and middle‐income countries (HICs vs. LMICs). Linear regressions are used for the analysis.

Results

HRH research publications rose exponentially (r2 = 0.94; p < 0.001) from 129 yearly publications in 1990, to 867 in 2018. Yet, HRH research publications had a logarithmic decrease (p < 0.001) in percentage of broader HPSSR publications, from 2.5% to 1.5% [1990–2018]. Funding support increased significantly and linearly (p < 0.001 r2 = 0.88), up to 44% in 2018. The percentage of HRH research publications addressing LMICs grew linearly (p < 0.001; r2 = 0.75), up to 23% in 2018.

Conclusion

HRH research publications in the PubMed database increased especially in the more recent years but did not outpace (in earlier times was outpaced) by the growth of HPSSR publications overall. Yearly, HICs still accounted for more than three‐quarters of HRH research. These findings can inform global and health research policies.
Application and progress of three‐dimensional bioprinting in spinal cord injury
Authors: Xia Qiu‐Qiu , Yuan Hao , Wang Ting‐Hua , Xiong Liu‐Lin , Xin Zhi‐Jun
Published: December 2021

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a central nervous system disorder that can lead to sensory and motor dysfunction, which can seriously increase pressure and economic burden on families and societies. The current SCI treatment is mainly to stabilize the spine, prevent secondary damage, and control inflammation. Drug treatment is limited to early, large‐scale use of steroids to reduce the effects of edema after SCI. In short, there is no direct treatment for SCI. Recent 3D bioprinting development provides a new solution for SCI treatment: a series of spinal cord bionic scaffolds are being developed to improve spinal cord function after injury. This paper reviews the pathophysiological characteristics of SCI, current treatment methods, and the progress of 3D bioprinting in SCI. Finally, its challenges and prospects in SCI treatment are summarized.
Application value and challenge of traditional Chinese medicine carried by ZIF‐8 in the therapy of ischemic stroke
Authors: Zhu Xiao‐Xi , Guo Dong‐Fen , Chen Ming , An Xiao‐Qiong , Wang Bi , Yu Wen‐Feng
Published: December 2021

Stroke is a group of major diseases that cause death or disability in adults, with high incidence and lack of available therapeutic strategies. Although traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has continuously achieved good effects in the therapy of stroke while there is still not convincing due to the limitation of blood–brain permeability, as well as the individual differences in usage and dosage. With the improvement of nanotechnology, TCM nanopreparation has gradually become a research hotspot in various fields due to its advantages in permeating the blood–brain barrier, targeting delivery, enhancing sustained‐release drug delivery, changing the distribution in the body, and improving bioavailability. Zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) is an ideal nano‐drug delivery system for adsorption, catalysis, and drug loading, which is a biocompatible metal–organic framework framed by 2‐methylimidazole and zinc ions. At present, ZIF‐8 was wildly used in the treatment of ischemic stroke. However, challenges remain persists for its clinical application, such as preparation technology, detection technology in vivo, targeting specificity, safety and stability, and so forth. Therefore, more efforts need to overcome the above problems to develop the application of TCM nanopreparations in the therapy of ischemia/reperfusion in the future.
Effect of topdressing of compost, compost tea, and various fertilizers on soil and lawn characteristics
Authors: Bero Nicholas J. , Soldat Douglas J.
Published: December 2021

Many cities in the United States collect and compost yard waste but need more effective and efficient ways to utilize the finished product. Home lawns represent a sizeable area that could benefit from land application of yard waste compost, but little research has been conducted regarding topdressing lawns with compost. The objectives of this study were to compare the impact of topdressing yard waste compost relative to organic and inorganic fertilizers in a mature, predominantly Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) lawn in Wisconsin. Three different composts (two from yard waste and one from food waste), two organic fertilizers, and a compost–compost tea combination were compared against a traditional synthetic fertilization program and a nontreated control. Treatments receiving compost (1.3 cm depth per year, in two equally sized applications) maintained acceptable turf quality over the 3.5‐yr study period and resulted in significant improvements in several important physical properties of the soil. Fertilizers were also able to maintain acceptable turfgrass quality but had no impact on the physical properties of soil over the study period relative to the control. Organic and synthetic fertilizers reduced weed populations compared with the control, though the compost treatments did not. Compost and one of the organic fertilizers significantly increased the levels of soil test P but did not reach levels of environmental concern.
Evaluation of the Pharmacokinetics and Safety of a Single Dose of Acalabrutinib in Subjects With Hepatic Impairment
Authors: Xu Yan , Izumi Raquel , Nguyen Helen , Kwan Anna , Kuo Howard , Madere Jeannine , Slatter J. Greg , Podoll Terry , Vishwanathan Karthick , Marbury Thomas , Smith William , Preston Richard A. , Sharma Shringi , Ware Joseph A.
Published: December 2021

Acalabrutinib received approval for the treatment of adult patients with mantle cell lymphoma who received at least 1 prior therapy and adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma. This study investigated the impact of hepatic impairment (HI) on acalabrutinib pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety at a single 50‐mg dose in fasted subjects. This study was divided into 2 parts: study 1, an open‐label, parallel‐group study in Child‐Pugh class A or B subjects and healthy subjects; and study 2, an open‐label, parallel‐group study in Child‐Pugh class C subjects and healthy subjects. Baseline characteristics and safety profiles were similar across groups. Acalabrutinib exposure (area under the plasma concentration–time curve) increased slightly (1.90‐ and 1.48‐fold) in subjects with mild (Child‐Pugh class A) and moderate (Child‐Pugh class B) hepatic impairment compared with healthy subjects. In severe hepatic impairment (Child‐Pugh class C), acalabrutinib exposure (area under the plasma concentration–time curve and maximum plasma concentration) increased ≈5.0‐ and 3.6‐fold, respectively. Results were consistent across total and unbound exposures. Severe hepatic impairment did not impact total/unbound metabolite (ACP‐5862) exposures; the metabolite‐to‐parent ratio decreased to 0.6 to 0.8 (vs 3.1‐3.6 in healthy subjects). In summary, single oral dose of 50‐mg acalabrutinib was safe and well tolerated in subjects with mild, moderate, and severe hepatic impairment and in healthy control subjects. In subjects with severe hepatic impairment, mean acalabrutinib exposure increased by up to 5‐fold and should be avoided. Acalabrutinib does not require dose adjustment in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment.