bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of FGFR4 G388R, V10I polymorphisms on the likelihood of cancer
Authors: Peng Tao , Sun Yangyang , Lv Zhiwei , Zhang Ze , Su Quanxin , Wu Hao , Zhang Wei , Yuan Wei , Zuo Li , Shi Li , Zhang Li-Feng , Zhou Xiaoli , Mi Yuanyuan
Published: January 2021

The correlation between G388R or V10I polymorphisms of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 4 gene and the risk of carcinoma has been investigated previously, but the results are contradictory. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs), in silico tools, and immunohistochemical staining (IHS) were adopted to assess the association. In total, 13,793 cancer patients and 16,179 controls were evaluated in our pooled analysis. Summarization of all the studies showed that G388R polymorphism is associated with elevated susceptibility to cancer under homozygous comparison (OR = 1.21, 95%CI = 1.03–1.43, P = 0.020) and a recessive genetic model (OR = 1.21, 95%CI = 1.04–1.41, P = 0.012). In the stratification analysis by cancer type and ethnicity, similar findings were indicated for prostate cancer, breast cancer, and individuals of Asian descendant. Polyphen2 bioinformatics analysis showed that the G388R mutation is predicted to damage the protein function of FGFR4. IHS analysis indicated that FGFR4 expression is increased in advanced prostate cancer. These findings may guide personalized treatment of certain types of cancers. Up-regulation of FGFR4 may be related to a poor prognosis in prostate cancer.
Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) exposures exert a sustained influence on the progression of gut microbiota and metabolome in the first year of life
Authors: Yap Polly Soo Xi , Chong Chun Wie , Ahmad Kamar Azanna , Yap Ivan Kok Seng , Choo Yao Mun , Lai Nai Ming , Teh Cindy Shuan Ju
Published: January 2021

Emerging evidence has shown a link between the perturbations and development of the gut microbiota in infants with their immediate and long-term health. To better understand the assembly of the gut microbiota in preterm infants, faecal samples were longitudinally collected from the preterm (n = 19) and term (n = 20) infants from birth until month 12. 16S rRNA gene sequencing (n = 141) and metabolomics profiling (n = 141) using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy identified significant differences between groups in various time points. A panel of amino acid metabolites and central metabolism intermediates significantly correlated with the relative abundances of 8 species of bacteria were identified in the preterm group. In contrast, faecal metabolites of term infants had significantly higher levels of metabolites which are commonly found in milk such as fucose and β-hydroxybutyrate. We demonstrated that the early-life factors such as gestational age, birth weight and NICU exposures, exerted a sustained effect to the dynamics of gut microbial composition and metabolism of the neonates up to one year of age. Thus, our findings suggest that intervention at this early time could provide ‘metabolic rescue’ to preterm infants from aberrant initial gut microbial colonisation and succession.
Three-year outcomes of vitrectomy combined with intraoperative dexamethasone implantation for non-tractional refractory diabetic macular edema
Authors: Hwang Sungsoon , Kang Se Woong , Kim Kyung Tae , Noh Hoon , Kim Sang Jin
Published: January 2021

This retrospective, consecutive interventional study investigated the long-term clinical outcomes of combined vitrectomy with intraoperative dexamethasone implants for non-tractional refractory diabetic macular edema (DME). The study included 43 eyes from 39 participants with DME that had continued for more than 6 months despite repeated non-surgical treatment. Postoperative changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were evaluated over 3 years. A Kaplan–Meier curve was obtained for any additional non-surgical treatment, and the average number of non-surgical treatments required for DME before and after surgery was compared. Other postsurgical complications were also investigated. The logMAR BCVA improved from 0.526 ± 0.417 (20/67) preoperatively to 0.294 ± 0.374 (20/39) 3 years postoperatively (p < 0.001, generalized estimating equation). The CMT improved from 478 ± 122 μm preoperatively to 314 ± 90 μm 3 years postoperatively (p < 0.001, generalized estimating equation). Additional non-surgical treatment was not required for 29 (67%) eyes. The average number of annual non-surgical treatments decreased from 5.04 times preoperatively to 0.34 times postoperatively. Seventeen (40%) eyes developed temporary ocular hypertension after surgery, which normalized after antihypertensive eye drop instillation. In conclusion, vitrectomy combined with intraoperative dexamethasone implantation provides satisfactory long-term clinical outcomes for non-tractional refractory DME while reducing the number of intraocular injections for DME.
Unexpected larger distribution of paleogene stem-rollers (AVES, CORACII): new evidence from the Eocene of Patagonia, Argentina
Authors: Degrange Federico J. , Pol Diego , Puerta Pablo , Wilf Peter
Published: January 2021

Here we present the first record of a stem-Coracii outside the Holarctic region, found in the early Eocene of Patagonia at the Laguna del Hunco locality. Ueekenkcoracias tambussiae gen. et sp. nov. consists of an incomplete right hind limb that presents the following combination of characters, characteristic of Coracii: relatively short and stout tibiotarsus, poorly developed crista cnemialis cranialis, short and wide tarsometatarsus, with the tuberositas m. tibialis cranialis located medially on the shaft, and curved and stout ungual phalanges. Although the presence of a rounded and conspicuous foramen vasculare distale and the trochlea metatarsi II strongly deflected medially resemble Primobucconidae, a fossil group only found in the Eocene of Europe and North America, our phylogenetic analysis indicates the new taxon is the basalmost known Coracii. The unexpected presence of a stem-Coracii in the Eocene of South America indicates that this clade had a more widespread distribution than previously hypothesized, already extending into the Southern Hemisphere by the early Eocene. Ueekenkcoracias tambussiae represents new evidence of the increasing diversity of stem lineages of birds in the Eocene. The new material provides novel morphological data for understanding the evolutionary origin and radiation of rollers and important data for estimates of the divergence time of the group.
Post-transplant absolute lymphocyte count predicts early cytomegalovirus infection after heart transplantation
Authors: Yoon Minjae , Oh Jaewon , Chun Kyeong-Hyeon , Lee Chan Joo , Kang Seok-Min
Published: January 2021

Immunosuppressive therapy can decrease rejection episodes and increase the risk of severe and fatal infections in heart transplantation (HT) recipients. Immunosuppressive therapy can also decrease the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), but the relationship between early post-transplant ALC and early cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is largely unknown, especially in HT. We retrospectively analyzed 58 HT recipients who tested positive for CMV IgG antibody and received basiliximab induction therapy. We collected preoperative and 2-month postoperative data on ALC and CMV load. The CMV load > 1200 IU/mL was used as the cutoff value to define early CMV infection. Post-transplant lymphopenia was defined as an ALC of < 500 cells/μL at postoperative day (POD) #7. On POD #7, 29 (50.0%) patients had post-transplant lymphopenia and 29 (50.0%) patients did not. The incidence of CMV infection within 1 or 2 months of HT was higher in the post-transplant lymphopenia group than in the non-lymphopenia group (82.8% vs. 48.3%, P = 0.013; 89.7% vs. 65.5%, P = 0.028, respectively). ALC < 500 cells/μL on POD #7 was an independent risk factor for early CMV infection within 1 month of HT (odds ratio, 4.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–14.77; P = 0.029). A low ALC after HT was associated with a high risk of early CMV infection. Post-transplant ALC monitoring is simple and inexpensive and can help identify patients at high risk of early CMV infection.
Dulaglutide exerts beneficial anti atherosclerotic effects in ApoE knockout mice with diabetes: the earlier, the better
Authors: Sanada Junpei , Obata Atsushi , Obata Yoshiyuki , Fushimi Yoshiro , Shimoda Masashi , Kohara Kenji , Nakanishi Shuhei , Mune Tomoatsu , Kaku Kohei , Kaneto Hideaki
Published: January 2021

There has been no report about the mechanism for anti-atherosclerotic effects of dulaglutide (Dula) and/or about the difference of its effectiveness between in an early and a late phase of diabetes. To address such questions, streptozotocin (STZ) was intraperitoneally injected to ApoE knockout mice at 8 weeks of age. Either Dula or vehicle was administered to STZ-induced diabetic ApoE knockout mice from 10 to 18 weeks of age as an early intervention group and from 18 to 26 weeks as a late intervention group. Next, non-diabetic ApoE knockout mice without STZ injection were subcutaneously injected with either Dula or vehicle. In an early intervention group, atherosclerotic lesion in aortic arch and Mac-2 and CD68-positive areas in aortic root were significantly smaller in Dula group. In abdominal aorta, expression levels of some villain factors were lower in Dula group. In a late intervention group, there were no immunohistological differences in aortic root and expression levels of various factors between two groups. Furthermore, even in non-diabetic ApoE knockout mice, expression levels of inflammatory and macrophage markers were reduced by treatment with Dula. Taken together, Dula exerts more beneficial anti-atherosclerotic effects in an early phase of diabetes rather than in a late phase.
Co-continuous network polymers using epoxy monolith for the design of tough materials
Authors: Tominaga Ren , Nishimura Yukihiro , Suzuki Yasuhito , Takeda Yoshihiro , Kotera Masaru , Matsumoto Akikazu
Published: January 2021

High-performance polymer materials that can exhibit distinguished mechanical properties have been developed based on material design considering energy dissipation by sacrificial bond dissociation. We now propose co-continuous network polymers (CNPs) for the design of tough polymer materials. CNP is a new composite material fabricated by filling the three-dimensionally continuous pores of a hard epoxy monolith with any cross-linked polymer having a low glass transition temperature (Tg). The structure and mechanical properties of the CNPs containing epoxy resins, thiol-ene thermosets, and polyacrylates as the low-Tg components were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile tests as well as scanning electron microscopic observations and non-destructive 3D X-ray imaging in order to clarify a mechanism for exhibiting an excellent strength and toughness. It has been demonstrated that the mechanical properties and fractural behavior of the CNPs significantly depend on the network structure of the filler polymers, and that a simultaneous high strength and toughness are achieved via the sacrificial fracture mechanism of epoxy-based hard materials with co-continuous network structures.
Diagnosing Hirschsprung disease by detecting intestinal ganglion cells using label-free hyperspectral microscopy
Authors: Soares de Oliveira Marcos A. , Galganski Laura , Stokes Sarah , Chang Che -Wei , Pivetti Christopher D. , Zhang Bo , Matsukuma Karen E. , Saadai Payam , Chan James W.
Published: January 2021

Hirschsprung disease (HD) is a congenital disorder in the distal colon that is characterized by the absence of nerve ganglion cells in the diseased tissue. The primary treatment for HD is surgical intervention with resection of the aganglionic bowel. The accurate identification of the aganglionic segment depends on the histologic evaluation of multiple biopsies to determine the absence of ganglion cells in the tissue, which can be a time-consuming procedure. We investigate the feasibility of using a combination of label-free optical modalities, second harmonic generation (SHG); two-photon excitation autofluorescence (2PAF); and Raman spectroscopy (RS), to accurately locate and identify ganglion cells in murine intestinal tissue without the use of exogenous labels or dyes. We show that the image contrast provided by SHG and 2PAF signals allows for the visualization of the overall tissue morphology and localization of regions that may contain ganglion cells, while RS provides detailed multiplexed molecular information that can be used to accurately identify specific ganglion cells. Support vector machine, principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis classification models were applied to the hyperspectral Raman data and showed that ganglion cells can be identified with a classification accuracy higher than 95%. Our findings suggest that a near real-time intraoperative histology method can be developed using these three optical modalities together that can aid pathologists and surgeons in rapid, accurate identification of ganglion cells to guide surgical decisions with minimal human intervention.
Synchronous Hartmann reversal and incisional hernia repair is associated with higher complication rate compared to a staged procedure
Authors: Rudnicki Y. , Horesh N. , Lessing Y. , Tverskov V. , Wachtel A. , Slavin M. , Tulchinsky H. , Wasserberg N. , Mavor E. , Zmora O. , Avital S.
Published: January 2021

Post operative ventral hernias are common following Hartmann's procedure. There is a debate whether hernia repair is safe when performed concomitantly with colostomy closure. In this study we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of synchronous Hartmann reversal (HR) with a hernia repair, compared to a staged procedure. A retrospective multi-center study was conducted, including all patients who underwent Hartmann’s procedure from January 2004 to July 2017 in 5 medical centers. Patient data included demographics, surgical data and post-operative outcome. Two hundred and seventy-four patients underwent colostomy reversal following Hartmann's procedure. In 107 patients (39%) a concomitant ventral hernia was reported during the Hartmann's reversal. Out of this cohort, 62 patients (58%) underwent hernia repair during follow-up. Thirty two patients (52%) underwent a synchronous hernia repair and 30 patients (48%) underwent hernia repair as a separate procedure. Post operative complication rate was significantly higher in the colostomy reversal with synchronous hernia repair group when compared to HR alone group (53% vs. 20%; p < 0.01; OR 4.5). In addition, severe complication rate (Clavien–Dindo score ≥ 3) was higher in the synchronous hernia repair group (25% vs. 7%). A tendency for higher hernia recurrence rate was noted in the synchronous group (56% vs. 40%). Median follow up time was 2.53 years (range 1–13.3 years). Synchronous colostomy closure and ventral hernia repair following Hartmann's procedure carries a significant risk for post operative complications, indicating that a staged procedure might be preferable.
Lenstar LS 900 versus Pentacam-AXL: analysis of refractive outcomes and predicted refraction
Authors: Arruda Henrique Aragão , Pereira Joana M. , Neves Arminda , Vieira Maria João , Martins Joana , Sousa João C.
Published: January 2021

Analysis of refractive outcomes, using biometry data collected with a new biometer (Pentacam-AXL, OCULUS, Germany) and a reference biometer (Lenstar LS 900, HAAG-STREIT AG, Switzerland), in order to assess differences in the predicted and actual refraction using different formulas. Prospective, institutional study, in which intraocular lens (IOL) calculation was performed using the Haigis, SRK/T and Hoffer Q formulas with the two systems in patients undergoing cataract surgery between November 2016 and August 2017. Four to 6 weeks after surgery, the spherical equivalent (SE) was derived from objective refraction. Mean prediction error (PE), mean absolute error (MAE) and the median absolute error (MedAE) were calculated. The percentage of eyes within ± 0.25, ± 0.50, ± 1.00, and ± 2.00 D of MAE was determined. 104 eyes from 76 patients, 35 males (46.1%), underwent uneventful phacoemulsification with IOL implantation. Mean SE after surgery was − 0.29 ± 0.46 D. Mean prediction error (PE) using the SRK/T, Haigis and Hoffer Q formulas with the Lenstar was significantly different (p > 0.0001) from PE calculated with the Pentacam in all three formulas. Percentage of eyes within ± 0.25 D MAE were larger with the Lenstar device, using all three formulas. The difference between the actual refractive error and the predicted refractive error is consistently lower when using Lenstar. The Pentacam-AXL user should be alert to the critical necessity of constant optimization in order to obtain optimal refractive results.
Tomato detection based on modified YOLOv3 framework
Authors: Lawal Mubashiru Olarewaju
Published: January 2021

Fruit detection forms a vital part of the robotic harvesting platform. However, uneven environment conditions, such as branch and leaf occlusion, illumination variation, clusters of tomatoes, shading, and so on, have made fruit detection very challenging. In order to solve these problems, a modified YOLOv3 model called YOLO-Tomato models were adopted to detect tomatoes in complex environmental conditions. With the application of label what you see approach, densely architecture incorporation, spatial pyramid pooling and Mish function activation to the modified YOLOv3 model, the YOLO-Tomato models: YOLO-Tomato-A at AP 98.3% with detection time 48 ms, YOLO-Tomato-B at AP 99.3% with detection time 44 ms, and YOLO-Tomato-C at AP 99.5% with detection time 52 ms, performed better than other state-of-the-art methods.
Attribution of late summer early autumn Arctic sea ice decline in recent decades
Authors: Yu Lejiang , Zhong Shiyuan , Vihma Timo , Sun Bo
Published: January 2021

The underlying mechanisms for Arctic sea ice decline can be categories as those directly related to changes in atmospheric circulations (often referred to as dynamic mechanisms) and the rest (broadly characterized as thermodynamic processes). An attribution analysis based on the self-organizing maps (SOM) method is performed to determine the relative contributions from these two types of mechanisms to the Arctic sea ice decline in August–October during 1979–2016. The daily atmospheric circulations represented by daily 500-hPa geopotential height anomalies are classified into 12 SOM patterns, which portray the spatial structures of the Arctic Oscillation and Arctic Dipole, and their transitions. Due to the counterbalance between the opposite trends among the circulation patterns, the net effect of circulation changes is small, explaining only 1.6% of the declining trend in the number of August–October sea ice days in the Arctic during 1979–2016. The majority of the trend (95.8%) is accounted for by changes in thermodynamic processes not directly related to changes in circulations, whereas for the remaining trend (2.6%) the contributions of circulation and non-circulation changes cannot be distinguished. The sea ice decline is closely associated with surface air temperature increase, which is related to increasing trends in atmospheric water vapor content, downward longwave radiation, and sea surface temperatures over the open ocean, as well as to decreasing trends in surface albedo. An analogous SOM analysis extending seasonal coverage to spring (April–October) for the same period supports the dominating role of thermodynamic forcing in decadal-scale Arctic sea ice loss.
Late Campanian fossil of a legume fruit supports Mexico as a center of Fabaceae radiation
Authors: Centeno-González Naylet K. , Martínez-Cabrera Hugo I. , Porras-Múzquiz Héctor , Estrada-Ruiz Emilio
Published: January 2021

Fabaceae is one of the most diverse angiosperm families and is distributed across the globe in a variety of environments. The earliest evidence of the family, previous to this work, was from Paleogene sediments where it was found to be diverse in many fossil assemblages around the world. Here, we describe a fossil legume fruit from the Olmos Formation (upper Campanian) in northern Mexico. We designated the fossil fruit asLeguminocarpum olmensisCenteno-González, Martínez-Cabrera, Porras-Múzquiz et Estrada-Ruiz sp. nov., and related it with the Fabaceae family based on the presence of a dehiscent pod with two valves, an apex bearing stylar base, short stipe, and reticulated veins in the pericarp. We propose a new fossil species ofLeguminocarpumfor this fossil fruit. This fossil provides critical information on the long geologic history of Leguminosae around the world, significantly extending the record into the Cretaceous of Mexico.
Deep learning identifies partially overlapping subnetworks in the human social brain
Authors: Kiesow Hannah , Spreng R. Nathan , Holmes Avram J. , Chakravarty M. Mallar , Marquand Andre F. , Yeo B. T. Thomas , Bzdok Danilo
Published: January 2021

Complex social interplay is a defining property of the human species. In social neuroscience, many experiments have sought to first define and then locate ‘perspective taking’, ‘empathy’, and other psychological concepts to specific brain circuits. Seldom, bottom-up studies were conducted to first identify explanatory patterns of brain variation, which are then related to psychological concepts; perhaps due to a lack of large population datasets. In this spirit, we performed a systematic de-construction of social brain morphology into its elementary building blocks, involving ~10,000 UK Biobank participants. We explored coherent representations of structural co-variation at population scale within a recent social brain atlas, by translating autoencoder neural networks from deep learning. The learned subnetworks revealed essential patterns of structural relationships between social brain regions, with the nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex, and temporoparietal junction embedded at the core. Some of the uncovered subnetworks contributed to predicting examined social traits in general, while other subnetworks helped predict specific facets of social functioning, such as the experience of social isolation. As a consequence of our population-level evidence, spatially overlapping subsystems of the social brain probably relate to interindividual differences in everyday social life.
Whole brain dynamics during optogenetic self-stimulation of the medial prefrontal cortex in mice
Authors: Cover Christopher G. , Kesner Andrew J. , Ukani Shehzad , Stein Elliot A. , Ikemoto Satoshi , Yang Yihong , Lu Hanbing
Published: January 2021

Intracranial self-stimulation, in which an animal performs an operant response to receive regional brain electrical stimulation, is a widely used procedure to study motivated behavior. While local neuronal activity has long been measured immediately before or after the operant, imaging the whole brain in real-time remains a challenge. Herein we report a method that permits functional MRI (fMRI) of brain dynamics while mice are cued to perform an operant task: licking a spout to receive optogenetic stimulation to the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) during a cue ON, but not cue OFF. Licking during cue ON results in activation of a widely distributed network consistent with underlying MPFC projections, while licking during cue OFF (without optogenetic stimulation) leads to negative fMRI signal in brain regions involved in acute extinction. Noninvasive whole brain readout combined with circuit-specific neuromodulation opens an avenue for investigating adaptive behavior in both healthy and disease models.
A case for limited global contraction of Mercury
Authors: Watters Thomas R.
Published: January 2021

Mercury is a one-plate planet that has experienced significant radial contraction primarily driven by interior cooling. In some previous studies aimed at estimating the total magnitude of contraction, numerous faults are assigned to positive relief landforms, many without evidence of origin by deformation, resulting in estimates of planetary radius reduction as large as 7 km. Here we use high-incidence angle image mosaics and topography from the MESSENGER mission to map Mercury’s contractional landforms. Each landform is assigned a single, principal fault, resulting in an amount of contractional strain equivalent to a radius change of no more than 1 to 2 km. A small radius change since the end of heavy bombardment is consistent with Mercury’s long-lived magnetic field and evidence of recent tectonic activity. It is concluded that the retention of interior heat and a lower degree of contraction may be facilitated by the insulating effect of a thick megaregolith.
Engaging 1,7-diynes in a photocatalytic Kharasch-type addition/1,5-(SN′′)-substitution cascade toward β-gem-dihalovinyl carbonyls
Authors: Wu Dan , Hao Wen-Juan , Rao Qian , Lu Yi , Tu Shu-Jiang , Jiang Bo
Published: January 2021

A new and general photocatalytic Kharasch-type addition/1,5-(SN′′)-substitution cascade of 1,7-diynes with alkyl halides such as BrCCl3and CBr4was reported for the first time, producing 65 hitherto unreported β-gem-dihalovinyl ketones/aldehydes with moderate to excellent yields.
Free ions in kerosene-based ferrofluid detected by impedance spectroscopy
Authors: Batalioto F. , Barbero G. , Campos A. F. C. , Figueiredo Neto A. M.
Published: January 2021

The influence of the free ions on the electric response of cells filled with kerosene-based ferrofluids in the low-frequency region is explored.
High-performance ammonia oxidation catalysts for anion-exchange membrane direct ammonia fuel cells
Authors: Li Yi , Pillai Hemanth Somarajan , Wang Teng , Hwang Sooyeon , Zhao Yun , Qiao Zhi , Mu Qingmin , Karakalos Stavros , Chen Mengjie , Yang Juan , Su Dong , Xin Hongliang , Yan Yushan , Wu Gang
Published: January 2021

Low-temperature direct ammonia fuel cells (DAFCs) can use carbon-neutral ammonia as a fuel, which has attracted increasing attention recently due to ammonia's low source-to-tank energy cost, easy transport and storage, and wide availability.
The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview
Authors: Wayman Chloe , Niemann Helge
Published: January 2021

The fate of plastic in the ocean is influenced by physical, chemical and biological stressors. These cause fragemntation and the formation of micro and nanoplastics but also degradation of plastics.
One-pot cascade synthesis of α-diketones from aldehydes and ketones in water by using a bifunctional iron nanocomposite catalyst
Authors: Song Tao , Zhou Xin , Wang Xiaoxue , Xiao Jianliang , Yang Yong
Published: January 2021

A methodology for the synthesis of α-diketones was developed via a one-pot cascade process from aldehydes and ketones catalyzed by a bifunctional iron nanocomposite using H2O2 as an oxidant in water.
An electron rich indaceno [2,1-b:6,5-b′] dithiophene derivative as a high intramolecular charge transfer material in dye sensitized solar cells
Authors: Barłóg Maciej , Yavuz Cagdas , Ali Abdulrahman K. , Kandemir Zafer , Comí Marc , Bazzi Hassan S. , Al-Hashimi Mohammed , Erten-Ela Sule
Published: January 2021

The synthesis, characterisation and photovoltaic performance of an indacenodithiophene (IDT)-based organic dye in DSSCs has been presented.
The synthesis of conjugated microporous polymers via nucleophilic substitution of hydroquinone with cyanuric chloride and hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene for sensing to 2,4-dinitrophenol and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol
Authors: Geng Tong-Mou , Liu Min , Hu Chen , Zhu Hai
Published: January 2021

Hydroquinone is an electron-rich connector similar in structure to DNP and TNP. Two hydroquinone-based conjugated microporous polymers have excellent fluorescence sensing performance for DNP and TNP, respectively.
Controllable design of defect-rich hybrid iron oxide nanostructures on mesoporous carbon-based scaffold for pseudocapacitive applications
Authors: S. Mofarah Sajjad , Khayyam Nekouei Rasoul , Maroufi Samane , Biswal Smitirupa , Lim Sean , Yao Yin , Sahajwalla Veena
Published: January 2021

This work reports fabrication of defect-rich iron oxides and carbon-based scaffolds, with perforated architecture. The nanoperforates act as trapping sites to localise the FexOy and enhance accessibility of the active sites, improving the electrochemical performance.
Influences of dynamic and static disorder on the carrier mobility of BTBT-C12 derivatives: a multiscale computational study
Authors: Peng Xingliang , Li Qikai , Shuai Zhigang
Published: January 2021

This work evaluates the influences of the disorder on the hole mobility of BTBT-C12 derivatives.
Unravelling halide-dependent charge carrier dynamics in CsPb(Br/Cl)3perovskite nanocrystals
Authors: Mandal Saptarshi , Ghosh Swarnali , Mukherjee Soumen , De Chayan K. , Roy Debjit , Samanta Tridib , Mandal Prasun K.
Published: January 2021

Halide dependent charge carrier dynamics in CsPb(Br/Cl)3perovskite nanocrystals.
Recent advances in ring-opening of donor acceptor cyclopropanes using C-nucleophiles
Authors: Ghosh Koena , Das Subhomoy
Published: January 2021

This review summarises the remarkable advancements in the ring-opening chemistry of donor–acceptor cyclopropanes (DACs) using C-nucleophiles to construct varieties of carbocycles.
Identification and enhancing production of a novel macrolide compound in engineeredStreptomyces peucetius
Authors: Pham Van Thuy Thi , Nguyen Hue Thi , Nguyen Chung Thanh , Choi Ye Seul , Dhakal Dipesh , Kim Tae-Su , Jung Hye Jin , Yamaguchi Tokutaro , Sohng Jae Kyung
Published: January 2021

Activation of peucemycin inS. peucetiusDM07 by the OSMAC strategy.
Self-healing solid polymer electrolyte based on imine bonds for high safety and stable lithium metal batteries
Authors: Cao Xiaoyan , Zhang Pengming , Guo Nanping , Tong Yongfen , Xu Qiuhua , Zhou Dan , Feng Zhijun
Published: January 2021

A self-healing solid polymer electrolyte based on imine bonds is fabricated through a simple Schiff base reaction. The polymer electrolyte exhibit excellent self-healing characteristics and good electrochemical performance.
Two lathyrane diterpenoid stereoisomers containing an unusualtrans-gem-dimethylcyclopropane from the seeds ofEuphorbia lathyris
Authors: Li Linwei , Huang Jianan , Lyu Hui , Guan Fuqin , Li Pirui , Tian Mei , Xu Shu , Zhao Xingzeng , Liu Fei , Paetz Christian , Feng Xu , Chen Yu
Published: January 2021

Two novel lathyrane-type diterpenoids, which possess atrans-gem-dimethylcyclopropane were obtained from seeds ofEuphorbia lathyris. TheEuphorbiafactor L2bexhibited an inhibitory effect against U937 cell line with an IC50value of 0.87 μM.
Investigating students’ reasoning over time for case comparisons of acyl transfer reaction mechanisms
Authors: Watts Field M. , Zaimi Ina , Kranz David , Graulich Nicole , Shultz Ginger V.
Published: January 2021

Reasoning about organic chemistry reaction mechanisms requires engagement with multiple concepts and necessitates balancing the relative influence of different chemical properties. A goal of organic chemistry instruction is to support students with engaging in this type of reasoning. In this study, we describe our use of case comparison problems to elicit students’ reasoning about acyl transfer reaction mechanisms across a semester. Using an instrumental case study methodology, we analysed three students’ reasoning across three time points: in a pre-interview at the beginning of the semester, on their written responses to one implementation of an in-class scaffold activity, and in a post-interview near the middle of the semester. Through the theoretical lens of Hammer's resources framework, we analysed the resources that students activated when approaching the case comparison problems. We characterized how students used each resource to support their reasoning, alongside characterizing how students weighed the different resources they activated. Our findings indicate that the case comparison problems activated a number of resources for each student across the time points by encouraging students to relate the surface-feature differences between reactions with the associated underlying properties. Students generally used resources, such as resonance and steric effects, in similar ways to support their reasoning across the time points. The study also illustrates the range in students’ abilities to weigh multiple conceptual influences and how this ability might change across the semester. This case study has implications for future research exploring how students reason with multiple concepts and for instructors seeking to implement activities that support students’ reasoning with case comparison problems.
Sulfoxide hemithioindigo tweezers – visible light addressable capture and release
Authors: Bartelmann Thomas , Gnannt Frederik , Zitzmann Max , Mayer Peter , Dube Henry
Published: January 2021

Hemithioindigo based molecular tweezers with a comprehensively improved property profile are obtained by simple oxidation of the sulfur atom.
Wetting of a solid surface by active matter
Authors: Neta P. D. , Tasinkevych M. , Telo da Gama M. M. , Dias C. S.
Published: January 2021

Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of an active lattice gas model indicate that the wetting film diverges in the whole range of activities considered, i.e. that the solid surface is always wet at the MIPS phase boundary.
Dual emission from an iridium(iii) complex/counter anion ion pair
Authors: Ito Wataru , Hattori Shingo , Kondo Mio , Sakagami Hiroki , Kobayashi Osamu , Ishimoto Takayoshi , Shinozaki Kazuteru
Published: January 2021

[Ir(tpy)2](PF6)3 (tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) dissolved in CH3CN was found to exhibit dual color luminescent emission depending on the excitation wavelength.
The role of chemical biology in the fight against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Burslem George M.
Published: January 2021

Since late 2019, biomedical labs all over the world have been struggling to cope with the ‘new normal' and to find ways in which they can contribute to the fight against COVID-19. In this unique situation where a biomedical issue dominates people's lives and the news cycle, chemical biology has a great deal to contribute. This review will describe the importance of science at the chemistry/biology interface to both understand and combat the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Emerging role of VCP/p97 in cardiovascular diseases: novel insights and therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Shu Hongyang , Peng Yizhong , Hang Weijian , Zhou Ning , Wang Dao Wen
Published: January 2021

Valosin-containing protein (VCP/p97) is a member of the conserved type II AAA+ (ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities) family of proteins with multiple biological functions, especially in protein homeostasis. Mutations in VCP/p97 are reportedly related to unique autosomal dominant diseases, which may worsen cardiac function. Although the structure of VCP/p97 has been clearly characterized, with reports of high abundance in the heart, research focusing on the molecular mechanisms underpinning the roles of VCP/p97 in the cardiovascular system has been recently undertaken over the past decades. Recent studies have shown that VCP/p97 deficiency affects myocardial fibers and induces heart failure, while overexpression of VCP/p97 eliminates ischemia/reperfusion injury and relieves pathological cardiac hypertrophy caused by cardiac pressure overload, which is related to changes in the mitochondria and calcium overload. However, certain studies have drawn opposing conclusions, including the mitigation of ischemia/reperfusion injury via inhibition of VCP/p97 ATPase activity. Nevertheless, these emerging studies shed light on the role of VCP/p97 and its therapeutic potential in cardiovascular diseases. In other words, VCP/p97 may be involved in the development of cardiovascular disease, and is anticipated to be a new therapeutic target. This review summarizes current findings regarding VCP/p97 in the cardiovascular system for the first time, and discusses the role of VCP/p97 in cardiovascular disease.
From folding to function: complex macromolecular reactions unraveled one-by-one with optical tweezers
Authors: Heidarsson Pétur O. , Cecconi Ciro
Published: January 2021

Single-molecule manipulation with optical tweezers has uncovered macromolecular behaviour hidden to other experimental techniques. Recent instrumental improvements have made it possible to expand the range of systems accessible to optical tweezers. Beyond focusing on the folding and structural changes of isolated single molecules, optical tweezers studies have evolved into unraveling the basic principles of complex molecular processes such as co-translational folding on the ribosome, kinase activation dynamics, ligand–receptor binding, chaperone-assisted protein folding, and even dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). In this mini-review, we illustrate the methodological principles of optical tweezers before highlighting recent advances in studying complex protein conformational dynamics – from protein synthesis to physiological function – as well as emerging future issues that are beginning to be addressed with novel approaches.
Radio observations of massive stars in the Galactic centre: The Arches Cluster
Authors: Gallego-Calvente A. T. , Schödel R. , Alberdi A. , Herrero-Illana R. , Najarro F. , Yusef-Zadeh F. , Dong H. , Sanchez-Bermudez J. , Shahzamanian B. , Nogueras-Lara F. , Gallego-Cano E.
Published: January 2021

We present high-angular-resolution radio observations of the Arches cluster in the Galactic centre, one of the most massive young clusters in the Milky Way. The data were acquired in two epochs and at 6 and 10 GHz with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. The rms noise reached is three to four times better than during previous observations and we have almost doubled the number of known radio stars in the cluster. Nine of them have spectral indices consistent with thermal emission from ionised stellar winds, one is a confirmed colliding wind binary, and two sources are ambiguous cases. Regarding variability, the radio emission appears to be stable on timescales of a few to ten years. Finally, we show that the number of radio stars can be used as a tool for constraining the age and/or mass of a cluster and also its mass function.
Narrowband oblique whistler-mode waves: comparing properties observed by Parker Solar Probe at <0.3 AU and STEREO at 1 AU
Authors: Cattell C. , Short B. , Breneman A. , Halekas J. , Whittesley P. , Larson D. , Kasper J. C. , Stevens M. , Case T. , Moncuquet M. , Bale S. , Bonnell J. , Dudok de Wit T. , Goetz K. , Harvey P. , MacDowall R. , Malaspina D. , Maksimovic M. , Pulupa M. , Goodrich K.
Published: January 2021

Aims.Large amplitude narrowband obliquely propagating whistler-mode waves at frequencies of ~0.2fce(electron cyclotron frequency) are commonly observed at 1 AU, and they are most consistent with the whistler heat flux fan instability. We want to determine whether similar whistler-mode waves occur inside 0.3 AU and how their properties compare to those at 1 AU.

Methods.We utilized the waveform capture data from the Parker Solar Probe Fields instrument from Encounters 1 through 4 to develop a data base of narrowband whistler waves. The Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons Investigation (SWEAP) instrument, in conjunction with the quasi-thermal noise measurement from Fields, provides the electron heat flux, beta, and other electron parameters.

Results.Parker Solar Probe observations inside ~0.3 AU show that the waves are often more intermittent than at 1 AU, and they are interspersed with electrostatic whistler-Bernstein waves at higher-frequencies. This is likely due to the more variable solar wind observed closer to the Sun. The whistlers usually occur within regions when the magnetic field is more variable and often with small increases in the solar wind speed. The near-Sun whistler-mode waves are also narrowband and large amplitude, and they are associated with beta greater than 1. The association with heat flux and beta is generally consistent with the whistler fan instability. Strong scattering of strahl energy electrons is seen in association with the waves, providing evidence that the waves regulate the electron heat flux.
Downflowing umbral flashes as evidence of standing waves in sunspot umbrae
Authors: Felipe T. , Henriques V. M. J. , de la Cruz Rodríguez J. , Socas-Navarro H.
Published: January 2021

Context. Umbral flashes are sudden brightenings commonly visible in the core of some chromospheric lines. Theoretical and numerical modeling suggests that they are produced by the propagation of shock waves. According to these models and early observations, umbral flashes are associated with upflows. However, recent studies have reported umbral flashes in downflowing atmospheres.

Aims. We aim to understand the origin of downflowing umbral flashes. We explore how the existence of standing waves in the umbral chromosphere impacts the generation of flashed profiles.

Methods. We performed numerical simulations of wave propagation in a sunspot umbra with the code MANCHA. The Stokes profiles of the Ca II 8542 Å line were synthesized with the NICOLE code.

Results. For freely propagating waves, the chromospheric temperature enhancements of the oscillations are in phase with velocity upflows. In this case, the intensity core of the Ca II 8542 Å atmosphere is heated during the upflowing stage of the oscillation. However, a different scenario with a resonant cavity produced by the sharp temperature gradient of the transition region leads to chromospheric standing oscillations. In this situation, temperature fluctuations are shifted backward and temperature enhancements partially coincide with the downflowing stage of the oscillation. In umbral flash events produced by standing oscillations, the reversal of the emission feature is produced when the oscillation is downflowing. The chromospheric temperature keeps increasing while the atmosphere is changing from a downflow to an upflow. During the appearance of flashed Ca II 8542 Å cores, the atmosphere is upflowing most of the time, and only 38% of the flashed profiles are associated with downflows.

Conclusions. We find a scenario that remarkably explains the recent empirical findings of downflowing umbral flashes as a natural consequence of the presence of standing oscillations above sunspot umbrae.
Physics and evolution of the most massive stars in 30 Doradus
Authors: Gräfener Götz
Published: January 2021

Context.The identification of stellar-mass black-hole mergers with up to 80 M⊙as powerful sources of gravitational wave radiation led to increased interest in the physics of the most massive stars. The largest sample of possible progenitors of such objects, very massive stars (VMS) with masses up to 300M⊙, have been identified in the 30 Dor star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). In this young starburst analogue, VMS were found to dominate stellar feedback. Despite their importance, the physics and evolution of VMS is highly uncertain, mainly due to their proximity to the Eddington limit.

Aims.In this work, we investigate the two most important effects that are thought to occur near the Eddington limit: enhanced mass loss through optically thick winds and the formation of radially inflated stellar envelopes.

Methods.We compute evolutionary models for VMS at LMC metallicity and perform a population synthesis of the young stellar population in 30 Dor. We adjust the input physics of our models to match the empirical properties of the single-star population in 30 Dor as derived in the framework of the VLT-Flames Tarantula Survey.

Results.Enhanced mass loss and envelope inflation near the Eddington limit have a dominant effect on the evolution of the most massive stars. While the observed mass-loss properties and the associated surface He-enrichment are well described by our new models, the observed O-star mass-loss rates are found to cover a much larger range than theoretically predicted, with particularly low mass-loss rates for the youngest objects. Also, the (rotational) surface enrichment in the O-star regime appears to not be well understood. The positions of the most massive stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (HRD) are affected by mass loss and envelope inflation. For instance, the majority of luminous B supergiants in 30 Dor, and the lack thereof at the highest luminosities, can be explained through the combination of envelope inflation and mass loss. Finally, we find that the upper limit for the inferred initial stellar masses in the greater 30 Dor region is significantly lower than in its central cluster, R 136, implying a variable upper limit for the masses of stars.

Conclusions.The implementation of mass-loss and envelope physics in stellar evolution models turns out to be essential for the modelling of the observable properties of young stellar populations. While the properties of the most massive stars (≳100 M⊙) are well described by our new models, the slightly less massive O stars investigated in this work show a much more diverse behaviour than previously thought, which has potential implications for rotational mixing and angular momentum transport. While the present models are a big step forward in the understanding of stellar evolution in the upper HRD, more work is needed to understand the mechanisms that regulate the mass-loss rates of OB stars and the physics of fast-rotating stars.
Production rate and lot-size dependent lead time reduction strategies in a supply chain model with stochastic demand, controllable setup cost and trade-credit financing
Authors: Das Roy Monami , Sana Shib Sankar
Published: January 2021

This study explores simultaneous reduction strategies of lead time and setup cost in a two-stage supply chain model under trade-credit financing. Lead time depends on a variable production rate and lot size. It consists of setup, production, and transportation time which are shortened to reduce lead time. Although double safety factors are considered to avoid stock-out; but still backorders take place as the demand during the lead time is stochastic. Setup cost is reduced by including an extra investment cost. In addition, the vendor offers a fixed credit period to the buyer to settle the account. The objective is to minimize the integrated expected total cost and optimize the order quantity, number of deliveries, setup and transportation time, setup cost, safety factor for the first batch, and the production rate. A multi-variable optimization technique is used for these purposes. Furthermore, a numerical example together with managerial insights is provided for the establishment and applicability of the proposed model. The numerical results show that the introduction of setup cost reduction and trade-credit financing along with lead time reduction is more beneficial by means of integrated expected total cost reduction.
Project-based Learning Approach to Marketing Competencies Development
Authors: Dušek Radim
Published: January 2021

Due to the requirements for matching the needs of employers with the job applicants’ skills, companies increasingly tend to use a key competency-based approach to select new marketers. The aim of this paper is to determine if the project-based learning method has helped developing economic university students’ key competencies that are essential in the marketing related jobs. For testing and developing such key competencies, the method of project-based learning have been implemented into the Marketing communication course at the Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia in Czech Republic. Results show that innovated course had a positive effect especially on the development of abilities to work effectively in team, assessing and analysing information or work independently.