bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced and stabilized hydrogen production from methanol by ultrasmall Ni nanoclusters immobilized on defect-rich h-BN nanosheets
Authors: Zhang Zhuolei , Su Ji , Matias Ana Sanz , Gordon Madeleine , Liu Yi-Sheng , Guo Jinghua , Song Chengyu , Dun Chaochao , Prendergast David , Somorjai Gabor A. , Urban Jeffrey J.
Published: November 2020

Significance

While transition metal-based catalysts promise lower-cost alternatives to traditional precious metals, their low activity and stability limit their deployment within industrial dehydrogenation. Here, we report the design and synthesis of ultrasmall nickel nanoclusters (∼1.5 nm) deposited on defect-rich BN nanosheet (Ni/BN) catalysts with excellent methanol dehydrogenation activity and selectivity. We found an idiosyncratic metal–support interaction not only plays a vital role in promoting the one-pot synthesis of ultrasmall Ni nanoclusters with high catalytic activity, helping to disperse and anchor the nanoclusters but also strongly enhancing the resistance to sintering and coking during methanol dehydrogenation. Calculated turnover frequency (TOF) is among the best compared with some other dehydrogenation catalysts reported previously.
Reshaping circadian metabolism in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and prefrontal cortex by nutritional challenge
Authors: Tognini Paola , Samad Muntaha , Kinouchi Kenichiro , Liu Yu , Helbling Jean-Christophe , Moisan Marie-Pierre , Eckel-Mahan Kristin L. , Baldi Pierre , Sassone-Corsi Paolo
Published: November 2020

Significance

Nutrition and the body clock are deeply intertwined, both impinging on our physiological health. Food composition can dramatically rewire peripheral clock metabolism; however, whether food challenges can impact circadian metabolism of the master clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) or other brain areas has not been fully explored. Here we analyzed the complete diurnal metabolome of the SCN and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in mice fed a balanced diet or a high-fat diet (HFD). Strikingly, our data reveal unexpected daily rhythmicity in both SCN and mPFC metabolites that is significantly impacted by HFD in a region-specific manner. Our findings unveil an unsuspected sensitivity of brain clocks to nutrition.
Assembly of the peripheral stalk of ATP synthase in human mitochondria
Authors: He Jiuya , Carroll Joe , Ding Shujing , Fearnley Ian M. , Montgomery Martin G. , Walker John E.
Published: November 2020

Significance

The production of ATP in mitochondria requires the oxidation of energy rich compounds to generate a proton motive force (pmf), a chemical potential difference for protons across the inner membrane. This pmf powers the ATP synthase, a molecular machine with a rotary action, to synthesize ATP. The assembly of human ATP synthase from 27 nuclear encoded proteins and two mitochondrially encoded subunits in the inner organellar membrane involves the formation of intermediate modules representing the F
1
-catalytic domain, the peripheral stalk, associated membrane subunits, and the c
8
ring in the membrane part of the rotor. Here, we describe how components of the peripheral stalk and three associated membrane subunits are assembled and introduced into the enzyme complex.
Generalizing the Mach cone for sources traveling along arbitrary trajectories
Authors: Carpena Pedro , Coronado Ana V
Published: November 2020

The concept of Mach cone arises when a wave source travels along a linear trajectory through a given medium with speed larger than the wave speed in that medium, and a shock wave is created. It is commonly associated to mechanical waves (specially sound), although also appears in electromagnetic waves as in the case of Cerenkov radiation. In all cases, the conical shape (or arrow tip shape in 2D media) is a consequence of the linear trajectory of the source. Here, we generalize this situation and determine the shape of the Mach wave front for sources traveling along arbitrary trajectories. To do so, instead of waves, we consider that the source emits rays as in geometrical optics, and determine the equations describing the points in the space that are reached simultaneously by the rays, which form the Mach wave front. To show the applicability of our general results, we obtain explicitly the Mach wave fronts for three different trajectories: linear, circular and sinusoidal.
Tunable reflected acoustic wave front modulated with piezoelectric metasurfaces
Authors: Li Shilong , Xu Jiawen , Yao Yixin , Tang J
Published: November 2020

Wave front engineering realized through metasurface synthesis has attracted considerable attention in recent years. Acoustic metasurfaces in deep subwavelength scale have promising potentials in applications such as acoustic focal lenses and acoustic cloaking. Most existing devices, however, lack the tunability in real time. In this paper, an adaptive acoustic metasurface taking advantage of the two-way electro-mechanical coupling of piezoelectric transducers is developed, which enables the manipulation of acoustic waves adaptively. The proposed metasurface consists of units constructed from membranes with back air cavities, wherein the membrane strength is controlled by piezoelectric transducer. With membrane strengths tailored in a tunable manner, an accurate phase profile along the acoustic metasurfaces can be designed, yielding acoustic metasurfaces to steer reflected acoustic waves online without modification of the underlying physical structures. We demonstrate that the adaptive acoustic metasurfaces can successfully achieve abnormal reflections, planar focal lenses and self-accelerating beams. The acoustic cloaking realized by our adaptive acoustic metasurfaces is also illustrated to further manifest the design versatility.
Accessing topological surface states and negative MR in sculpted nanowires of Bi2Te3 at ultra-low temperature
Authors: Yadav Reena , Bhattacharyya Biplab , Pandey Animesh , Kaur Mandeep , Aloysius R P , Gupta Anurag , Husale Sudhir
Published: November 2020

Milling of 2D flakes is a simple method to fabricate nanomaterial of any desired shape and size. Inherently milling process can introduce the impurity or disorder which might show exotic quantum transport phenomenon when studied at the low temperature. Here we report temperature dependent weak antilocalization (WAL) effects in the sculpted nanowires of topological insulator in the presence of perpendicular magnetic field. The quadratic and linear magnetoconductivity (MC) curves at low temperature (>2 K) indicate the bulk contribution in the transport. A cusp feature in magnetoconductivity curves (positive magnetoresistance) at ultra low (<1 K) temperature and at magnetic field (<1 T) represent the WAL indicating the transport through surface states. The MC curves are discussed by using the 2D Hikami–Larkin–Nagaoka theory. The cross-over/interplay nature of positive and negative magnetoresistance observed in the MR curve at ultra-low temperature. Our results indicate that transport through topological surface states (TSS) in sculpted nanowires of Bi2Te3 can be achieved at mK range and linear MR observed at ∼2 K could be the coexistence of electron transport through TSS and contribution from the bulk band.
Prussian blue-carboxylated MWCNTs/ZIF-67 composite: a new electrochemical sensing platform for paracetamol detection with high sensitivity
Authors: Gao Feng , Zou Jin , Zhong Wei , Tu Xiaolong , Huang Xigen , Yu Yongfang , Wang Xiaoqiang , Lu Limin , Bai Ling
Published: November 2020

In this study, the composite of Prussian blue-carboxylated MWCNTs/ZIF-67 (PB-MWCNTs-COOH/ZIF-67) was synthesized and used as modified electrode material to fabricate an electrochemical sensor for the determination of paracetamol (PAR). In this sensor system, negatively charged MWCNTs-COOH as support for the immobilization of positively charged PB can effectively avoid the agglomeration of PB and enhance the stability, conductivity and catalytic activity of the composite. ZIF-67 particles coating outside PB-MWCNTs-COOH promotes the concentration of PAR. Benefiting from the synergistic effect, the PB-MWCNTs-COOH/ZIF-67 based sensor exhibits significantly improved electrochemical sensing behavior toward the oxidation of PAR. Under the optimum conditions, the PAR sensor presents wide linear ranges of 0.01–70 μM with a low limit of detection of 3.3 nM (S/N = 3). The method also possesses long-term stability, good reproducibility and selectivity, and was employed to the determination of PAR contents in PAR tablets sample.
Investigation of the Bragg peak degradation caused by homogeneous and heterogeneous lung tissue substitutes: proton beam experiments and comparison to current clinical dose calculation
Authors: Hranek A , Resch A F , Georg D , Knäusl B
Published: November 2020

Submillimetre structures of lung tissue are not represented in computed tomography images used for radiotherapeutic dose calculation. In order to study the effect experimentally, lung substitutes with properties similar to lung tissue were chosen, namely two types of commercial lung tissue equivalent plates (LTEPs) (CIRS, USA), two types of cork, balsawood, floral foam and konjac sponge. Laterally integrated dose profiles were measured as a function of depth for proton pencil beams (PBs) with an initial nominal energy of 97.4 and 148.2 MeV, respectively. The obtained dose profiles were investigated for their shifting and degradation of the Bragg peak (BP) caused by the materials, expressed as water equivalent thickness (WET) and full width half maximum. The set-up was simulated in the treatment planning system (TPS) RayStation using the Monte Carlo (MC) dose calculation algorithm. While the WET between experiment and dose calculation agreed within 0.5 mm, except for floral foam, the full width half maximum was underestimated in the TPS by up to 2.3 mm. Normalisation to the same mass thickness of the lung substitutes allowed to classify LTEPs and balsawood as homogeneous and cork, floral foam and konjac sponge as heterogeneous materials. The material specific BP degradation was up to 3.4 times higher for the heterogeneous samples. The modulation power as a measure for the heterogeneity was compared to the spectrum of Hounsfield units (HU) of the materials. A clear correlation was not found, but with further improvements the HU spectrum may serve as an indicator for the material heterogeneity. Further, MC simulations of binary voxel models using GATE/Geant4 were performed to investigate the influence of grain size and mass density. For mass densities similar to lung tissue the BP degradation had a maximum at 3 and 7 mm grain size.
Accounting for prompt gamma emission and detection for range verification in proton therapy treatment planning
Authors: Tian Liheng , Huang Ze , Janssens Guillaume , Landry Guillaume , Dedes George , Kamp Florian , Belka Claus , Pinto Marco , Parodi Katia
Published: November 2020

Prompt gamma (PG) imaging is widely investigated as one of the most promising methods for proton range verification in proton therapy. The performance of this technique is affected by several factors like tissue heterogeneity, number of protons in the considered pencil beam and the detection device. Our previous work proposed a new treatment planning concept which boosts the number of protons of a few PG monitoring-friendly pencil beams (PBs), selected on the basis of two proposed indicators quantifying the conformity between the dose and PG at the emission level, above the desired detectability threshold. To further explore this method at the detection level, in this work we investigated the response of a knife-edge slit PG camera which was deployed in the first clinical application of PG to proton therapy monitoring. The REGistration Graphical User Interface (REGGUI) is employed to simulate the PG emission, PG detection as well as the corresponding dose distribution. As the PG signal detected by this kind of PG camera is sensitive to the relative position of the camera and PG signal falloff, we optimized our PB selection method for this camera by introducing a new camera position indicator identifying whether the expected falloff of the PG signal is centered in the field of view of the camera or not. Our camera-adapted PB selection method is investigated using computed tomography (CT) scans at two different treatment time points of a head and neck, and a prostate cancer patient under scenarios considering different statistics level. The results show that a precision of 0.8 mm for PG falloff identification can be achieved when a PB has more than 2 × 108 primary protons. Except for one case due to unpredictable and comparably large anatomical changes, the PG signals of most of the PBs recommended by all our indicators are observed to be reliable for proton range verification with deviations between the inter-fractional shift of proton range (as deduced from the PB dose distribution) and the detected PG signal within 2.0 mm. In contrast, a shift difference up to 9.6 mm has been observed for the rejected PBs. The magnitude of the proton range shift due to the inter-fractional anatomical changes is observed to be up to 23 mm. The proposed indicators are shown to be valuable for identifying and recommending reliable PBs to create new PG monitoring-friendly TPs. Comparison between our PB boosting method and the alternative PB aggregation, which combines the signal of nearby PBs to reach the desired counting statistics, is also discussed.
Moment approach of the multi-species non-linear Coulomb collision operator adapted to particle-in-cell codes
Authors: Donnel P , Gheller C , Brunner S , Villard L , Lanti E , Ohana N , Murugappan M
Published: November 2020

In this article an approximated version of the multi-species, non-linear Coulomb collision operator is derived via the use of a truncated moment expansion of the distribution function to compute the Rosenbluth potentials. The evolution of the distribution function due to the collision operator takes the form of a Fokker–Planck equation that can be efficiently solved by a Langevin approach in the particle-in-cell (PIC) framework. This kinetic collision operator is then implemented in the global gyrokinetic PIC code ORB5 while neglecting finite Larmor effects. This collision operator ensures exact conservation of density, total momentum and energy as expected. The neoclassical physics is also successfully retrieved by the code. Numerical aspects such as the noise control and the parallelisation of the code are presented in detail.
The role of photon self-absorption on the H (n
= 2) density determination by means of VUV emission spectroscopy and TDLAS in low pressure plasmas
Authors: Merk F , Friedl R , Briefi S , Fröhler-Bachus C , Fantz U
Published: November 2020

The H (n = 2) atomic density determination by means of vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) emission spectroscopy of the Lyman-α line in laboratory low pressure plasmas is strongly affected by self-absorption of emitted photons inside the plasma leading to an underestimation of this density. A correction of the densities obtained from VUV emission spectroscopy measurements is performed by using the escape factor method. The corrections applied can reach orders of magnitude even in low pressure plasmas. Assumptions on the spatial distribution of emitting and absorbing particles as well as on the corresponding line profiles have to be made. Consequently, additional measurements are performed, which raises the requirement of a benchmark of the applied correction procedure. In contrast, tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) on the Balmer-α line is a direct measurement of the H (n = 2) density and is thus suitable for a benchmark. For the ICP under consideration, H (n = 2) densities obtained via TDLAS are near 3 × 1015 m−3 whereas uncorrected VUV emission spectroscopy gives values in the range of roughly 1013 m−3 depending on pressure and applied RF power. The calculated escape factors are on the order of 2–8 × 10−3. An excellent agreement with TDLAS is observed by applying them to the results of the VUV emission spectroscopy.
Self-organization of touching-target current with ac voltage in atmospheric pressure plasma jet for medical application parameters
Authors: Schweigert I V , Alexandrov A L , Zakrevsky Dm E
Published: November 2020

In experiments with the cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet, the frequency of the current measured near the treated target shows a mismatch with the voltage frequency. The system including the plasma device and target organizes the plasma delivery differently with changing voltage frequency and amplitude. All electromagnetic and chemical processes near the target depend on the frequency of the plasma-target contacts. In experiments and in 2D fluid model simulations, the self-organization of touching-target current is studied for voltage frequencies of 10–50 kHz and amplitudes of 2.5–6 kV. The streamer propagation through the volumetric plasma cloud outside of discharge device and the mechanism responsible for variation of touching-target current frequency are discussed.
COVID-KOP: integrating emerging COVID-19 data with the ROBOKOP database
Authors: Korn Daniel , Bobrowski Tesia , Li Michael , Kebede Yaphet , Wang Patrick , Owen Phillips , Vaidya Gaurav , Muratov Eugene , Chirkova Rada , Bizon Chris , Tropsha Alexander
Published: November 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we established COVID-KOP, a new knowledgebase integrating the existing Reasoning Over Biomedical Objects linked in Knowledge Oriented Pathways (ROBOKOP) biomedical knowledge graph with information from recent biomedical literature on COVID-19 annotated in the CORD-19 collection. COVID-KOP can be used effectively to generate new hypotheses concerning repurposing of known drugs and clinical drug candidates against COVID-19 by establishing respective confirmatory pathways of drug action.

Availability and implementation

COVID-KOP is freely accessible at https://covidkop.renci.org/. For code and instructions for the original ROBOKOP, see: https://github.com/NCATS-Gamma/robokop.
Semiparametric regression on cumulative incidence function with interval-censored competing risks data and missing event types
Authors: Park Jun , Bakoyannis Giorgos , Zhang Ying , Yiannoutsos Constantin T
Published: November 2020

Competing risk data are frequently interval-censored, that is, the exact event time is not observed but only known to lie between two examination time points such as clinic visits. In addition to interval censoring, another common complication is that the event type is missing for some study participants. In this article, we propose an augmented inverse probability weighted sieve maximum likelihood estimator for the analysis of interval-censored competing risk data in the presence of missing event types. The estimator imposes weaker than usual missing at random assumptions by allowing for the inclusion of auxiliary variables that are potentially associated with the probability of missingness. The proposed estimator is shown to be doubly robust, in the sense that it is consistent even if either the model for the probability of missingness or the model for the probability of the event type is misspecified. Extensive Monte Carlo simulation studies show good performance of the proposed method even under a large amount of missing event types. The method is illustrated using data from an HIV cohort study in sub-Saharan Africa, where a significant portion of events types is missing. The proposed method can be readily implemented using the new function ciregic_aipw in the R package intccr.
Susceptibility to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection Among Children and Adults: A Seroprevalence Study of Family Households in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region, Spain
Authors: Brotons Pedro , Launes Cristian , Buetas Elena , Fumado Vicky , Henares Desiree , de Sevilla Mariona Fernandez , Redin Alba , Fuente-Soro Laura , Cuadras Daniel , Mele Maria , Jou Cristina , Millat Pere , Jordan Iolanda , Garcia-Garcia Juan Jose , Bassat Quique , Muñoz-Almagro Carmen ,   Kids Corona Study Group, Adroher Cristina , Alsina Laia , Ajanovic Sara , Andueza Ainhoa , Arias Sara , Balanza Nuria , Baro Barbara , Bonet-Carne Elisenda , Claverol Joana , Cubells Marta , Fortuny Claudia , Garcia-Miguel Aleix , Gratacos Eduard , Hernandez Maria , Morales Monica , Pérez-Soler Felipe , Ríos María , Millat Pere , Pons Gemma , Torrents Francesc , Uribesalgo Iris , Valls Anna , Varo Rosauro
Published: November 2020

Background

Susceptibility of children and adults to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and persistence of antibody response to the virus after infection resolution remain poorly understood, despite their significant public health implications.

Methods

A prospective cross-sectional seroprevalence study with volunteer families that included at least 1 first-reported adult case positive by SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and at least 1 child aged <15 years living in the same household under strict home confinement was conducted in the metropolitan Barcelona Health Region, Spain, during the pandemic period 28 April 2020–3 June 2020. All household members were tested at home using a rapid SARS-CoV-2 antibody assay with finger prick–obtained capillary blood.

Results

A total of 381 family households including 381 first-reported PCR-positive adult cases and 1084 contacts (672 children, 412 adults) were enrolled. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence rates were 17.6% (118 of 672) in children and 18.7% (77 of 335) in adult contacts (P = .64). Among first-reported cases, seropositivity rates varied from 84.0% in adults previously hospitalized and tested within 6 weeks since the first positive PCR result to 31.5% in those not hospitalized and tested after that lag time (P < .001). Nearly all (99.9%) positive children were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.

Conclusions

Children appear to have similar probability as adults to become infected by SARS-CoV-2 in quarantined family households but remain largely asymptomatic. Adult antibody protection against SARS-CoV-2 seems to be weak beyond 6 weeks post-infection confirmation, especially in cases that have experienced mild disease.
Establishing a New Normal for Hospital Care: A Whole of Hospital Approach to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Authors: Lum Brandon X , Liu Eugene H , Archuleta Sophia , Somani Jyoti , Bagdasarian Natasha , Koh Catherine S , Sin Clara S , Wong Mushan , Quek Swee Chye , Fisher Dale A
Published: November 2020

Singapore’s hospitals had prepared to receive patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), planning various scenarios and levels of surge with a policy of isolating all confirmed cases as inpatients. The National University Hospital adopted a whole of hospital approach to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with 3 primary goals: zero hospital-acquired COVID-19, all patients receive timely necessary care, and maintenance of staff morale. These goals to date have been met. A large influx of COVID-19 cases required significant transformation of clinical and operational processes. Isolation room numbers almost tripled and dedicated COVID-19 cohort wards were established, elective care was postponed, and intensive care units were augmented with equipment and manpower. In the wake of the surge, establishing a new normal for hospital care requires maintaining vigilance to detect endemic COVID-19, establishing contingency plans to ramp up in case of another surge, while returning to business as usual.
Genomic characterization of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis-associated transcriptome and regulome
Authors: Makki Nadja , Zhao Jingjing , Liu Zhaoyang , Eckalbar Walter L , Ushiki Aki , Khanshour Anas M , Wu Joe , Rios Jonathan , Gray Ryan S , Wise Carol A , Ahituv Nadav
Published: November 2020

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), a sideways curvature of the spine, is the most common pediatric musculoskeletal disorder, affecting ~3% of the population worldwide. However, its genetic bases and tissues of origin remain largely unknown. Several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have implicated nucleotide variants in non-coding sequences that control genes with important roles in cartilage, muscle, bone, connective tissue and intervertebral disks (IVDs) as drivers of AIS susceptibility. Here, we set out to define the expression of AIS-associated genes and active regulatory elements by performing RNA-seq and chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing against H3 lysine 27 acetylation in these tissues in mouse and human. Our study highlights genetic pathways involving AIS-associated loci that regulate chondrogenesis, IVD development and connective tissue maintenance and homeostasis. In addition, we identify thousands of putative AIS-associated regulatory elements which may orchestrate tissue-specific expression in musculoskeletal tissues of the spine. Quantification of enhancer activity of several candidate regulatory elements from our study identifies three functional enhancers carrying AIS-associated GWAS SNPs at the ADGRG6 and BNC2 loci. Our findings provide a novel genome-wide catalog of AIS-relevant genes and regulatory elements and aid in the identification of novel targets for AIS causality and treatment.
Dual Nationality of a Private Investor in Investment Treaty Arbitration: A Potential Barrier to the Exercise of Jurisdiction Ratione Personae?
Authors: Vijayvergia Chitransh
Published: November 2020

One of the fundamental objectives of international investment agreements (IIAs) is to protect the rights and interests of foreign investors in the territory of a contracting State. Why, then, have tribunals often exercised jurisdiction ratione personae over the claims of dual nationals against their own State? The answer lies in the silence of IIAs on the matter of dual nationals. Such agreements have failed expressly to mention dual nationals in their definitions of ‘investor’ or ‘national’, which has created lacunae that are open to interpretation. Tribunals have often fallen back on international law to fill these gaps and accurately to determine the nationality of an investor’s claims. They have taken into consideration the text of the IIAs, the text of institutional rules and the general principles of international law. The principle of ‘dominant and effective nationality’, as propounded in the Nottebohm case, has made frequent appearances in such interpretation processes. However, the application of this principle has been inconsistent over time, with different tribunals taking different stances. In this article, the author traces this varied approaches of tribunals. In doing so, he analyses the text of and the awards delivered in disputes arising out of the Algiers Declaration, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (ICSID Convention), the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Arbitration Rules and various bilateral investment treaties (BITs). Based on this analysis, the author proposes several changes that States should consider in the future negotiation of BITs to restrict a claim by a dual national against its State of nationality.
South America’s Response to the Venezuelan Exodus: A Spirit of Regional Cooperation?
Authors: Ochoa Javier
Published: November 2020

Based on the premise that massive influxes of Venezuelans might overwhelm their asylum systems, South American host States have resorted to ‘Temporary Protection or Stay Arrangements’ (TPSAs) as an uncoordinated but pragmatic response in times of regional hardship. As the Venezuelan situation deteriorated, however, a May 2019 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Guidance Note encouraged host States to apply their extended refugee definitions in tandem with prima facie refugee status determination (PFRSD), an expedited procedure that can prevent the overburdening of asylum capacities. Despite the availability of a more favourable approach, host States have continued to rely on TPSAs, raising questions about whether they truly intend to adopt a regionally coordinated plan, as agreed in the Quito Process. Drawing primarily on domestic refugee legislation and UNHCR’s ‘Guidelines on International Protection No 11’, the article argues that host States’ motivation to provide temporary protection is not so much related to the potential overburdening of their asylum systems but rather to the long-term commitments that would come with the granting of refugee status. It is shown that PFRSD is already regulated in the national laws of four South American States, with the potential of turning into a regional centralized response, but its application remains largely ignored. The article ultimately serves as a reminder for South American governments that displaced Venezuelans do not need temporary humanitarian visas as they are, first and foremost, entitled to legal protection under domestic refugee law.
Factors associated with nurse well-being in relation to electronic health record use: A systematic review
Authors: Nguyen Oliver T , Shah Shivani , Gartland Alexander J , Parekh Arpan , Turner Kea , Feldman Sue S , Merlo Lisa J
Published: November 2020

Objective

Although nurses comprise the largest group of health professionals and electronic health record (EHR) user base, it is unclear how EHR use has affected nurse well-being. This systematic review assesses the multivariable (ie, organizational, nurse, and health information technology [IT]) factors associated with EHR-related nurse well-being and identifies potential improvements recommended by frontline nurses.

Materials and Methods

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ProQuest, and Web of Science for literature reporting on EHR use, nurses, and well-being. A quality appraisal was conducted using a previously developed tool.

Results

Of 4583 articles, 12 met inclusion criteria. Two-thirds of the studies were deemed to have a moderate or low risk of bias. Overall, the studies primarily focused on nurse- and IT-level factors, with 1 study examining organizational characteristics. That study found worse nurse well-being was associated with EHRs compared with paper charts. Studies on nurse-level factors suggest that personal digital literacy is one modifiable factor to improving well-being. Additionally, EHRs with integrated displays were associated with improved well-being. Recommendations for improving EHRs suggested IT-, organization-, and policy-level solutions to address the complex nature of EHR-related nurse well-being.

Conclusions

The overarching finding from this synthesis reveals a critical need for multifaceted interventions that better organize, manage, and display information for clinicians to facilitate decision making. Our study also suggests that nurses have valuable insight into ways to reduce EHR-related burden. Future research is needed to test multicomponent interventions that address these complex factors and use participatory approaches to engage nurses in intervention development.
Novel insights into host receptors and receptor-mediated signaling that regulate arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis
Authors: Nasir Fahad , Bahadur Ali , Lin Xiaolong , Gao Yingzhi , Tian Chunjie
Published: November 2020

More than 80% of land plant species benefit from symbiotic partnerships with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which assist in nutrient acquisition and enhance the ability of host plants to adapt to environmental constraints. Host-generated plasma membrane-residing receptor-like kinases and the intracellular α/β-hydrolase DWARF14-LIKE, a putative karrikin receptor, detect the presence of AM fungi before physical contact between the host and fungus. Detection induces appropriate symbiotic responses, which subsequently enables a favorable environment for AM symbiosis to occur. To prevent hyper-colonization and maintain a mutually beneficial association, the host plant precisely monitors and controls AM colonization by receptor-like kinases, such as SUPER NUMERIC NODULES. Previous studies have elucidated how host plant receptors and receptor-mediated signaling regulate AM symbiosis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. The identification of a rice CHITIN ELICITOR RECEPTOR KINASE 1 interaction partner, MYC FACTOR RECEPTOR 1, and new insights into DWARF14-LIKE receptor- and SUPER NUMERIC NODULES receptor-mediated signaling have expanded our understanding of how host plant receptors and their corresponding signals regulate AM symbiosis. This review summarizes these and other recent relevant findings. The identified receptors and/or their signaling components could be manipulated to engineer crops with improved agronomic traits by conferring the ability to precisely control AM colonization.
Integrating genome sequence and structural data for statistical learning to predict transcription factor binding sites
Authors: Long Pengpeng , Zhang Lu , Huang Bin , Chen Quan , Liu Haiyan
Published: November 2020

We report an approach to predict DNA specificity of the tetracycline repressor (TetR) family transcription regulators (TFRs). First, a genome sequence-based method was streamlined with quantitative P-values defined to filter out reliable predictions. Then, a framework was introduced to incorporate structural data and to train a statistical energy function to score the pairing between TFR and TFR binding site (TFBS) based on sequences. The predictions benchmarked against experiments, TFBSs for 29 out of 30 TFRs were correctly predicted by either the genome sequence-based or the statistical energy-based method. Using P-values or Z-scores as indicators, we estimate that 59.6% of TFRs are covered with relatively reliable predictions by at least one of the two methods, while only 28.7% are covered by the genome sequence-based method alone. Our approach predicts a large number of new TFBs which cannot be correctly retrieved from public databases such as FootprintDB. High-throughput experimental assays suggest that the statistical energy can model the TFBSs of a significant number of TFRs reliably. Thus the energy function may be applied to explore for new TFBSs in respective genomes. It is possible to extend our approach to other transcriptional factor families with sufficient structural information.
A topologically distinct class of photolyases specific for UV lesions within single-stranded DNA
Authors: Emmerich Hans-Joachim , Saft Martin , Schneider Leonie , Kock Dennis , Batschauer Alfred , Essen Lars-Oliver
Published: November 2020

Photolyases are ubiquitously occurring flavoproteins for catalyzing photo repair of UV-induced DNA damages. All photolyases described so far have a bilobal architecture with a C-terminal domain comprising flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) as catalytic cofactor and an N-terminal domain capable of harboring an additional antenna chromophore. Using sequence-similarity network analysis we discovered a novel subgroup of the photolyase/cryptochrome superfamily (PCSf), the NewPHLs. NewPHL occur in bacteria and have an inverted topology with an N-terminal catalytic domain and a C-terminal domain for sealing the FAD binding site from solvent access. By characterizing two NewPHL we show a photochemistry characteristic of other PCSf members as well as light-dependent repair of CPD lesions. Given their common specificity towards single-stranded DNA many bacterial species use NewPHL as a substitute for DASH-type photolyases. Given their simplified architecture and function we suggest that NewPHL are close to the evolutionary origin of the PCSf.
Swc4 positively regulates telomere length independently of its roles in NuA4 and SWR1 complexes
Authors: Liu Jia-Cheng , Li Qian-Jin , He Ming-Hong , Hu Can , Dai Pengfei , Meng Fei-Long , Zhou Bo O , Zhou Jin-Qiu
Published: November 2020

Telomeres at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes are essential for genome integrality and stability. In order to identify genes that sustain telomere maintenance independently of telomerase recruitment, we have exploited the phenotype of over-long telomeres in the cells that express Cdc13-Est2 fusion protein, and examined 195 strains, in which individual non-essential gene deletion causes telomere shortening. We have identified 24 genes whose deletion results in dramatic failure of Cdc13-Est2 function, including those encoding components of telomerase, Yku, KEOPS and NMD complexes, as well as quite a few whose functions are not obvious in telomerase activity regulation. We have characterized Swc4, a shared subunit of histone acetyltransferase NuA4 and chromatin remodeling SWR1 (SWR1-C) complexes, in telomere length regulation. Deletion of SWC4, but not other non-essential subunits of either NuA4 or SWR1-C, causes significant telomere shortening. Consistently, simultaneous disassembly of NuA4 and SWR1-C does not affect telomere length. Interestingly, inactivation of Swc4 in telomerase null cells accelerates both telomere shortening and senescence rates. Swc4 associates with telomeric DNA in vivo, suggesting a direct role of Swc4 at telomeres. Taken together, our work reveals a distinct role of Swc4 in telomere length regulation, separable from its canonical roles in both NuA4 and SWR1-C.
Ignored, Disregarded, Discarded? On the Introduction of the Periodic System in Norwegian Periodicals and Textbooks, c. 1870–1930s
Authors: Lykknes Annette
Published: November 2020

The above quote from P. K. Hustad (1878–?), a textbook author and teacher at an agricultural school in mid-Norway, might at first glance be taken as an argument for the use of the periodic system in the teaching of chemistry, as opposed to introducing element by element as was the tradition before the periodic system was presented and used in textbooks. Hustad, however, did not mention the periodic system at all in his text. As I will demonstrate in this chapter, Hustad’s book was not exceptional in this respect: Even though university professor Thorstein Hallager Hiortdahl (1839–1925) introduced the periodic system in his textbook in 1888 and some textbook authors continued this tradition into the 1890s, others ignored the periodic system completely as late as the 1920s and ‘30s. This contrasts sharply with Stephen Brush’s conclusion that by the late 1880s the periodic system was “widely accepted” in America and Central Europe, and that most textbooks in America and Britain after this time discussed the periodic system. In fact, the periodic system received little attention in Norway, not only compared to the United States and Central Europe, but compared to the rest of Scandinavia as well. The aim of the present volume is to compare how the periodic system was received in different countries. Answering such a comprehensive question, is, of course, challenging given the limited selection of printed sources. Quite often the sources that could shed light on the kinds of discussions that took place between relevant actors are either lost or inaccessible. As a consequence, I have chosen to look at how the periodic system was presented in Norwegian periodicals and to what degree—if any—it was introduced and/or used in Norwegian chemistry textbooks during the years between 1870 and the 1930s. I have based my investigation on textbooks available in the Norwegian national library database4 and other texts of which I was aware, as well as on the most common Norwegian chemistry and science periodicals.
Chemical Classification and the Response to the Periodic Law of Elements in Japan in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries
Authors: Kaji Masanori
Published: November 2020

The year 1868 is usually considered to be the beginning of modern Japan. In that year the Tokugawa government, a feudal samurai government in Edo (today’s Tokyo), was replaced by a modern imperial government (initially based in Kyoto, the old imperial capital) at a time of internal crisis and the fear of colonization by European imperial powers. This revolutionary political change is named the Meiji Restoration because the ancient imperial system was nominally restored under Emperor Meiji. The new government began as a mixture of ancient Japanese and modern Western imperial systems, but it soon became a completely Westernized government, which adopted a policy of full-fledged modernization. However, the introduction of Western science had already started long before the Meiji Restoration. During the Edo Period, the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603–1867) strictly controlled overseas trade and the Netherlands was the only European country with which Japan had diplomatic relationship from the middle of the seventeenth century until 1853. In the second half of the eighteenth century some books in Dutch on science, technology, and medicine were imported into Japan. For the introduction of Western medicine, physicians played an important role. During the Edo Period there was a class system: the samurai class (warrior) controlled the common people in villages and towns. All the professions were considered to be hereditary. However, physicians could move rather freely along the social ladder (hierarchy). If physicians were employed by feudal lords, they became accepted as members of the samurai. There was a reform movement among physicians during the eighteenth century. In 1754 Yamawaki Toyo (1706–62), a physician in Kyoto, received official permission to inspect the anatomy of a human body, using a cadaver of a condemned criminal, after he had inspected otters (a small animal with four webbed feet), the structure of which was quite different from Chinese medicine’s teaching. After him physicians were allowed to inspect condemned criminals’ bodies.
Functional Group Protection
Authors: Lambert Tristan H.
Published: November 2020

An efficient method for allylation of a sterically hindered alcohol in the presence of base-sensitive functionality (cf. 1 to 2) has been developed (Tetrahedron Lett. 2012, 53, 1319) by Richard B. Silverman at Northwestern University. Mark S. Taylor at the University of Toronto found (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 8260) that borinic acid 4 catalyzed the monofunctionalization of diols and carbohydrates such as 3. The selective functionalization of unprotected peptides can be challenging, but Man-Kin Wong at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Chi-Ming Che at the University of Hong Kong have shown (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 2589) that selective N-terminal functionalization can be achieved with the alkynyl ketene 7, which allows for subsequent derivitization of the acylated products (e.g., 8) via click reactions with azides. To formylate amines such as morpholine (9), an N-heterocyclic carbene (e.g., 10) catalyzed procedure that utilizes CO2 and polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) has been developed (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 2934) by Thibault Cantat at the CEA in France. For the protection of acyclic amino acid derivatives, Eiji Tayama at Niigata University has reported (Tetrahedron Lett. 2012, 53, 1373) a new protecting group, 1,2-dimethoxy-4,5-dimethylene, that is installed by double alkylation and can be removed with, for example, ethyl chloroformate to produce the corresponding carbamate (e.g., 12 to 13). As far as protecting groups go, ethers can be especially challenging to remove; however, a new procedure for the oxidative cleavage of glycol ethers, including dioxane, has been developed (Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 3218) by Zhong-Quan Liu at Lanzhou University. This copper-catalyzed procedure employs carboxylic acids such as 14 and produces alkoxymethoxy esters 15. The cleavage of unactivated ethers such as dibutyl ether as a means to alkylate sulfonamides (cf. 16) has been reported (Synlett 2012, 595) by Wei Zeng at South China University of Technology. Protecting groups that are thermally labile offer the ability to achieve deprotection without added reagents. A new thermolabile protecting group has been developed (Tetrahedron Lett. 2012, 53, 666) by Marcin K. Chmielewski at the Polish Academy of Sciences based on 2-pyridyl-N-(2,4-difluorobenzyl)aminoethyl carbonates.
Construction of Alkylated Stereocenters: The Deng Synthesis of (–)-Isoacanthodoral
Authors: Lambert Tristan H.
Published: November 2020

Matthew S. Sigm an at the University of Utah developed (Science 2012, 338, 1455) a redox-relay strategy that allowed for the enantioselective Heck arylation of alcohol 1 with diazo salt 2 to produce γ-arylated aldehyde 4 with high ee. Stephen P. Fletcher at the University of Oxford reported (Nature Chem. 2012, 4, 649) a procedure that utilized alkenes as alkylmetal equivalents for asymmetric conjugate additions, such as in the conversion of cyclohexenone 5 to ketone 7. A catalytic method for the regioselective and highly enantioselective 1,6-addition of alkynes to α, β, γ, δ-unsaturated carbonyls (e.g., 8 to 9) was reported (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 18936) by Takahiro Nishimura at Kyoto University and Tamio Hayashi at the IMRE in Singapore. Scott E. Schaus at Boston University found (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 19965) that BINOL 12 catalyzed the enantioselective addition of aryl or vinyl boronates to o-quinone methides, such as that generated from 10 to furnish 13. Elizabeth R. Jarvo at the University of California at Irvine discovered (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 7790) that triarylmethanes such as 15 could be prepared by enantiospecific cross-coupling of diarylmethane ethers, as long as the ether was capable of chelation (e.g., 14). Alternatively, Mary P. Watson at the University of Delaware found (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 3307) that benzylic pivalates could be enantiospecifically cross-coupled with arylboroxines, as in the conversion of 16 to 17. Yoann Coquerel and Jean Rodriguez at the University of Aix-Marseille found (Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 4686) that β-ketoamides could be directly arylated by reaction with in situ-generated aryne intermediates, such as in the conversion of 18 to 20. A unique approach to the asymmetric formation of acyclic quaternary stereocenters via a carbometalation-oxidation-aldol cascade of alkyne 21 to produce 22 was reported (Nature 2012, 490, 522) by Ilan Marek at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Keiji Maruoka at Kyoto University reported (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 16068) the first organocatalytic conjugate addition of aldehydes to acrylate esters by making use of amine catalyst 25 and the highly electrophilic fluorinated acrylate 23.