bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-resolution coded aperture X-ray fluorescence imaging with separable masks
Authors: Sun Shi-Feng ,   School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China,   Beijing Key Laboratory of passive Safety Technology for Nuclear Energy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Published: November 2020

Compared with traditional X-ray imaging systems based on polycapillary X-ray optics or a pinhole, coded aperture imaging system has the advantages in simple structure, high sensitivity, and strong expandability, which make it possess the potential applications in X-ray fluorescence imaging. In this work, a new coded aperture X-ray imaging system based on a novel imaging model which decomposes the mask projections into a superposition of two separable functions is designed and proposed for high-resolution X-ray imaging. The performance of the system is demonstrated by using the Geant4 package. To reduce the computational complexity of calibration and image reconstruction, a separable mask with 90 × 90 pixels is used. The mask is designed by selecting the central part of the original rank 463 modified uniformly redundant arrays. The mask is made of platinum foil with a pixel pitch of 25 microns. To study the effect of mask thickness on system performance, the mask thickness is varied from 25 to 200 microns. The active area of the Si detector employed in the system is 2 mm × 2 mm, divided into 80 × 80 pixels, each with a size of 25 μm × 25 μm. The field of view of the system is equal to the area of the detector, which is 2 mm × 2 mm. The detector is parallel to and center-aligned with the mask with a fixed distance of 2.0 mm. The images are reconstructed by using the fast iterative shrinkage-thresholding algorithm. The high-quality reconstructed images of different energy line sources and complex shaped objects are obtained. The simulation and analysis results indicate that for the near-field imaging, unlike imaging systems based on the conventional convolution model, the system has the performance that is not affected by the aperture collimation effect. The spatial resolution of the imaging system is about 65 microns. The calibrated matrices used have an important influence on the image quality. The quality of the reconstructed image is affected by the energy of X-rays used during calibration and the energy of X-rays emitted from the object; the smaller the difference between these two energy values, the higher the quality of the reconstructed images will be. The three-dimensional reconstruction results show that the system can correctly estimate the distance between the object and the system from a single two-dimensional projection. The axial spatial resolution of the system is about 1.1 mm.
High-performance THz emission: From topological insulator to topological spintronics
Authors: Wang Hang-Tian , Zhao Hai-Hui , Wen Liang-Gong , Wu Xiao-Jun , Nie Tian-Xiao , Zhao Wei-Sheng ,   Fert Beijing Institute, School of Microelectronics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China,   Qingdao Research Institute, Beihang University, Qingdao 266000, China,   School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Published: November 2020

Ferromagnet/nonmagnet (FM/NM) heterostructure under the excitation of femtosecond laser has proved to be a potential candidate for high-efficiency terahertz (THz) emission. Topological insulator (TI) is a novel two-dimensional (2D) material with a strong spin-orbital coupling, which endows this material with an extremely large spin-Hall angle. Thus, TI appears to be an attractive alternative to achieving higher-performance spintronic THz emitter when integrated with ferromagnetic material. In this paper, we discuss the ultrafast photocurrent response mechanism in TI film on the basis of the analysis of its crystal and band structures. The discussion of the mechanism reveals a relationship between THz radiation and external conditions, such as crystal orientation, polarized direction and chirality of the laser. Furthermore, we review the spintronic THz emission and manipulation in FM/NM heterostructure. The disclosed relationship between THz radiation and magnetization directions enables an effective control of the THz polarization by optimizing the system, such as by applying twisted magnetic field or fabricating cascade emitters. After integration, the FM/TI heterostructure presents a high efficiency and easy operation in THz radiation. This high-performance topological spintronic THz emitter presents a potential for the achievement of arbitrary polarization-shaping terahertz radiation.
Recent research progress of non-noble metal based surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates
Authors: Liu Xiao-Hong , Jiang Shan , Chang Lin , Zhang Wei ,   Chongqing Youth Vocational & Technical College, Chongqing 400712, China,   Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China
Published: November 2020

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is of great importance in analytical science, the noble-metal such as gold and silver are widely used in SERS research and applications. However, noble-metal based substrates are hampered in practical application. As for comparison, the Non-noble metal especially the semiconductor materials are the emerging SERS research frontier. Non-noble metal (such as C, Ti, Zn, Cu, Mo, W, etc.) nanomaterials based SERS substrate have been widely studied and applied due to their superior stability, selectivity, biocompatibility and low cost comparing to noble metal materials. As the chemical enhancement dominate its total SERS signals, it also provides an ideal platform for the investigation of chemical enhancement mechanism. In this review, we explored the development of non-noble metal SERS substrates, focusing on its enhancement mechanism and SERS performance of different materials as well as the future development direction.
High-performance near-field thermophotovoltaic device with CaF2/W multilayer hyperbolic metamaterial emitter
Authors: Du Wei , Yin Ge , Ma Yun-Gui ,   State Key Labortary of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
Published: November 2020

Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) device is a thermoelectric conversion method with great application prospects. In the far-field regime, the thermoelectric power is usually small due to the Planck blackbody radiation limit, but can be substantially enhanced in the near-field regime where evanescent waves will participate in the heat transfer by tunneling. In this aspect, the surface optical density of state is a key factor that will determine the transfer conversion of thermal photons. Plasmonic or phononic resonance materials have been discussed in the literature to acquire large heat flux. Besides, metamaterial is another way to pursue the design freedoms for the same purpose. In this work, we propose a [CaF2/W]n multilayer based infrared hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) with high surface density of states as an emitter of a high-performance TPV cell made of an InSb p-n junction (energy bandgap = 0.17 eV). The effective medium theory (EMT) is utilized to describe the electromagnetic behavior of the HMM. The near-field heat flux is calculated based on electrodynamic wave theory and Green's function method, and the photocurrent of thermophotovoltaic device is derived using diffusion equation for semiconductor. For comparison, we design three different radiators, i.e. tungsten film (W), [GaF2/W]n multilayer hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM), and tungsten-grounded HMM (WHMM). Compared with the pure tungsten radiator, the artificial structure exhibits the hyperbolic dispersion characteristic in a wide frequency range, which gives rise to a higher local density of states, in particular in the hyperbolic-to-elliptic spectral transition region. As a result, the radiation power and the energy conversion efficiency are greatly enhanced, which are more easily realized by a matched emission band achieved by the structural design. We find that the thermophotovoltaic device with WHMM radiator has a similar power and conversion efficiency to that with the HMM radiator. The influence of the substrate can be ignored when the hyperbolic metamaterial is thicker than 140 nm, very beneficial to the actual fabrication of the device. By our system, with multilayer hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) radiator, a high electric power >1 W/m2 and a conversion efficiency about 11% can be obtained at a bias temperature of 200 K and a 100 nm vacuum gap. Compared with nanowire arrays or natural hyperbolic material, the multilayer structure proposed in this paper has obvious advantages in bandwidth and manufacturing and may find important applications in near-field thermophotovoltaic device and other relevant areas.
Design of wide-angle metamaterial absorbers based on equivalent medium theory
Authors: Wu Yu-Ming , Wang Ren , Ding Xiao , Wang Bing-Zhong ,   Institute of Applied Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
Published: November 2020

The performances of metamaterial absorbers can be affected by the incidence angle of electromagnetic wave. It is difficult to design the incidence angle-insensitive metamaterial absorbers. In this paper, we propose a metamaterial absorber with wide-angle incidence based on the equivalent medium theory. The absorber unit consists of a double-sided split resonant ring placed vertically on the ground. The resistors and capacitors are loaded at the opening of the resonant ring. The resistor is used to adjust the equivalent electromagnetic parameters of the metamaterial, and the capacitor is used to control the resonant frequency of the metamaterial and miniaturize the unit. When the transverse electric (TE) plane wave impinges on the surface of the absorber, R = 4000 Ohm and C = 1.5 pF, the proposed absorber can achieve an absorptivity greater than 90% at 1.59 GHz up to an incidence angle reaching 70°. Besides, the absorber can achieve an 85% absorptivity under an incidence angle of 75°. when the transverse magnetic (TM) plane wave impinges on the surface of the absorbers, R = 1200 Ω and C = 1.5 pF, the proposed absorber can achieve an absorptivity of greater than 90% at 1.59 GHz up to a 70°incidence angle. Besides, the absorber can also achieve an absorptivity of 85% up to 75°. The results show that the measurement results are basically consistent with the simulation results. In addition, when the capacitance is changed while the other parameters are fixed, the metamaterial absorber proposed in this paper still has the same wide-angle absorbing performance at the new resonant frequency. In other words, the proposed absorber has broadband operating characteristics. A frequency-tunable metamaterial absorber with wide-angle incidence can be designed based on the aforementioned results. The results in this paper provide a method of tuning capacitance. The opening is set at the other end of the split ring, and the same fixed-value resistor and variable capacitor are loaded on the left opening, and the corresponding DC bias feeder is designed. One end of the DC bias line is directly connected to the ground, and the other end needs to be separately connected to the other DC bias feeder of each unit to realize the control of the variable capacitors of each unit.
Islet vascularization is regulated by primary endothelial cilia via VEGF-A-dependent signaling
Authors: Xiong Yan , Scerbo M Julia , Seelig Anett , Volta Francesco , O'Brien Nils , Dicker Andrea , Padula Daniela , Lickert Heiko , Gerdes Jantje Mareike , Berggren Per-Olof
Published: November 2020

Islet vascularization is essential for intact islet function and glucose homeostasis. We have previously shown that primary cilia directly regulate insulin secretion. However, it remains unclear whether they are also implicated in islet vascularization. At eight weeks, murineBbs4-/-islets show significantly lower intra-islet capillary density with enlarged diameters. TransplantedBbs4-/-islets exhibit delayed re-vascularization and reduced vascular fenestration after engraftment, partially impairing vascular permeability and glucose delivery to β-cells. We identified primary cilia on endothelial cells as the underlying cause of this regulation, via the vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A)/VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) pathway. In vitro silencing of ciliary genes in endothelial cells disrupts VEGF-A/VEGFR2 internalization and downstream signaling. Consequently, key features of angiogenesis including proliferation and migration are attenuated in humanBBS4silenced endothelial cells. We conclude that endothelial cell primary cilia regulate islet vascularization and vascular barrier function via the VEGF-A/VEGFR2 signaling pathway.
Momentary subjective well-being depends on learning and not reward
Authors: Blain Bastien , Rutledge Robb B
Published: November 2020

Subjective well-being or happiness is often associated with wealth. Recent studies suggest that momentary happiness is associated with reward prediction error, the difference between experienced and predicted reward, a key component of adaptive behaviour. We tested subjects in a reinforcement learning task in which reward size and probability were uncorrelated, allowing us to dissociate between the contributions of reward and learning to happiness. Using computational modelling, we found convergent evidence across stable and volatile learning tasks that happiness, like behaviour, is sensitive to learning-relevant variables (i.e. probability prediction error). Unlike behaviour, happiness is not sensitive to learning-irrelevant variables (i.e. reward prediction error). Increasing volatility reduces how many past trials influence behaviour but not happiness. Finally, depressive symptoms reduce happiness more in volatile than stable environments. Our results suggest that how we learn about our world may be more important for how we feel than the rewards we actually receive.
Visual attention modulates the integration of goal-relevant evidence and not value
Authors: Sepulveda Pradyumna , Usher Marius , Davies Ned , Benson Amy A , Ortoleva Pietro , De Martino Benedetto
Published: November 2020

When choosing between options, such as food items presented in plain view, people tend to choose the option they spend longer looking at. The prevailing interpretation is that visual attention increases value. However, in previous studies, ‘value’ was coupled to a behavioural goal, since subjects had to choose the item they preferred. This makes it impossible to discern if visual attention has an effect on value, or, instead, if attention modulates the information most relevant for the goal of the decision-maker. Here, we present the results of two independent studies—a perceptual and a value-based task—that allow us to decouple value from goal-relevant information using specific task-framing. Combining psychophysics with computational modelling, we show that, contrary to the current interpretation, attention does not boost value, but instead it modulates goal-relevant information. This work provides a novel and more general mechanism by which attention interacts with choice.
SMC5/6 is required for replication fork stability and faithful chromosome segregation during neurogenesis
Authors: Atkins Alisa , Xu Michelle J , Li Maggie , Rogers Nathaniel P , Pryzhkova Marina V , Jordan Philip W
Published: November 2020

Mutations of SMC5/6 components cause developmental defects, including primary microcephaly. To model neurodevelopmental defects, we engineered a mouse wherein Smc5 is conditionally knocked out (cKO) in the developing neocortex. Smc5 cKO mice exhibited neurodevelopmental defects due to neural progenitor cell (NPC) apoptosis, which led to reduction in cortical layer neurons. Smc5 cKO NPCs formed DNA bridges during mitosis and underwent chromosome missegregation. SMC5/6 depletion triggers a CHEK2-p53 DNA damage response, as concomitant deletion of the Trp53 tumor suppressor or Chek2 DNA damage checkpoint kinase rescued Smc5 cKO neurodevelopmental defects. Further assessment using Smc5 cKO and auxin-inducible degron systems demonstrated that absence of SMC5/6 leads to DNA replication stress at late-replicating regions such as pericentromeric heterochromatin. In summary, SMC5/6 is important for completion of DNA replication prior to entering mitosis, which ensures accurate chromosome segregation. Thus, SMC5/6 functions are critical in highly proliferative stem cells during organism development.
How to package the RNA of HIV-1
Authors: Kleinpeter Alex , Freed Eric O
Published: November 2020

Interactions between viral RNA and the integrase enzyme are required for HIV-1 particles to become infectious, a process that can be disrupted through multiple mechanisms.
Messages across time and space
Authors: Kuhn Sascha M , Nadler André
Published: November 2020

Compartmentalized oscillations of second messengers affect global cellular signaling.
Gender distribution beyond coarse measurements
Authors: Duarte Melina , Kochanska Adrianna , Nustad Torill
Published: November 2020

UiT The Arctic University of Norway has built a strong tradition of promoting gender balance within the institution. After decades of research and systematic measures, the university has increased the share of women in professor positions from 9% in 2000 to almost 40% in 2020. Today, UiT leads the national ranking in that category, being the university with highest representation of women in professor positions among the comprehensive Higher Education institutions in Norway. While this is a great achievement for the institution, Prestige Project calls, in this report, for a cautious interpretation of these results. While almost 40% of women hold professor positions at the university level, great disparities remain within and across knowledge fields and disciplines. A more nuanced view on the data shows that as of January 2020, 82% of the professor positions in the STEM fields at UiT were still held by men (NT and IVT Faculties combined). In addition, the overrepresentation of women in the fields commonly associated with female activities such as social sciences, care, and education have inflated the overall results for the better.

This report argues that the measurements of proportion of women and men in professor positions at the university level is a limited tool for a meaningful monitoring of gender balance in these positions at the university. This is because this metric does not allow for the monitoring of disparities within and across the different fields of knowledge and disciplines constituting the broad educational and research portfolio of the institution, neither for evaluating the effects of interventions at the units’ level. These limitations show that there is a need for more precise indicators for enabling the monitoring and evaluation of significant progress/deterioration in gender balance. In this perspective, a more precise metric can better serve as guidance for the generation of effective and more gender-aware management practices at the institution. Prestige Project proposes in this report an alternative metric that intends to better respond to this need: the scatterplot for gender balance in professor positions at UiT.
Anti-Streptococcus mutans and anti-biofilm activities of dextranase and its encapsulation in alginate beads for application in toothpaste
Authors: Juntarachot Nucharee , Sirilun Sasithorn , Kantachote Duangporn , Sittiprapaporn Phakkharawat , Tongpong Piyachat , Peerajan Sartjin , Chaiyasut Chaiyavat
Published: November 2020

Background

The accumulation of plaque causes oral diseases. Dental plaque is formed on teeth surfaces by oral bacterial pathogens, particularly Streptococcus mutans, in the oral cavity. Dextranase is one of the enzymes involved in antiplaque accumulation as it can prevent dental caries by the degradation of dextran, which is a component of plaque biofilm. This led to the idea of creating toothpaste containing dextranase for preventing oral diseases. However, the dextranase enzyme must be stable in the product; therefore, encapsulation is an attractive way to increase the stability of this enzyme.

Methods

The activity of food-grade fungal dextranase was measured on the basis of increasing ratio of reducing sugar concentration, determined by the reaction with 3, 5-dinitrosalicylic acid reagent. The efficiency of the dextranase enzyme was investigated based on its minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against biofilm formation by S. mutans ATCC 25175. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to study the three factors affecting encapsulation: pH, calcium chloride concentration, and sodium alginate concentration. Encapsulation efficiency (% EE) and the activity of dextranase enzyme trapped in alginate beads were determined. Then, the encapsulated dextranase in alginate beads was added to toothpaste base, and the stability of the enzyme was examined. Finally, sensory test and safety evaluation of toothpaste containing encapsulated dextranase were done.

Results

The highest activity of the dextranase enzyme was 4401.71 unit/g at a pH of 6 and 37 °C. The dextranase at its MIC (4.5 unit/g) showed strong inhibition against the growth of S. mutans. This enzyme at 1/2 MIC also showed a remarkable decrease in biofilm formation by S. mutans. The most effective condition of dextranase encapsulation was at a pH of 7, 20% w/v calcium chloride and 0.85% w/v sodium alginate. Toothpaste containing encapsulated dextranase alginate beads produced under suitable condition was stable after 3 months of storage, while the sensory test of the product was accepted at level 3 (like slightly), and it was safe.

Conclusion

This research achieved an alternative health product for oral care by formulating toothpaste with dextranase encapsulated in effective alginate beads to act against cariogenic bacteria, like S. mutants, by preventing dental plaque.
Assessing anthropogenic risk to sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) for reintroduction into San Francisco Bay
Authors: Rudebusch Jane , Hughes Brent B. , Boyer Katharyn E. , Hines Ellen
Published: November 2020

Southern sea otters have been actively managed for their conservation and recovery since listing on the federal Endangered Species Act in 1977. Still, they remain constrained to a geographically small area on the central coast of California relative to their former coast-wide range, with population numbers far below those of the estimated optimal sustainable population size. Species managers have discussed reintroducing southern sea otters into parts of their historic range to facilitate sustained population growth and geographic range expansion. San Francisco Bay (SFB), historically home to several thousand sea otters, is one location identified as a candidate release site for these reintroductions. The return of sea otters to SFB could bring benefits to local ecosystem restoration and tourism, in addition to spurring sea otter population growth to meet recovery goals. However, this is a highly urbanized estuary, so sea otters could also be exposed to serious anthropogenic threats that would challenge a successful reintroduction. In light of these potential detriments we performed a spatially-explicit risk assessment to analyze the suitability of SFB for southern sea otter reintroduction. We looked at threats to sea otters specific to SFB, including: the impacts of vessel traffic from commercial shipping, high-speed ferries, and recreational vessels; environmental contaminants of methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls; major oil spills; and commercial fishing. Factors that influenced the relative threat imposed by each stressor included the spatio-temporal extent and intensity of the stressor and its mitigation potential. Our analysis revealed the complex spatial and temporal variation in risk distribution across the SFB. The type and magnitude of anthropogenic risk was not uniformly distributed across the study area. For example, the central SFB housed the greatest cumulative risk, where a high degree of vessel traffic and other stressors occurred in conjunction. The individual stressors that contributed to this risk score varied across different parts of the study area as well. Whereas vessel traffic, particularly of fast ferries, was a high scoring risk factor in in the north and central bay, in the south bay it was environmental contaminants that caused greater risk potential. To help identify areas within the study area that managers might want to target for release efforts, the spatially-explicit risk map revealed pockets of SFB that could provide both suitable habitat and relatively low overall risk. However in some cases these were adjacent or in close proximity to identified high-risk portions of habitat in SFB. This predictive suitability and risk assessment can be used by managers to consider the spatial distribution of potential threats, and risk abatement that may be necessary for sea otters to re-occupy their historic home range in SFB.
Predicting disease occurrence of cabbage Verticillium wilt in monoculture using species distribution modeling
Authors: Ikeda Kentaro , Osawa Takeshi
Published: November 2020

Background

Although integrated pest management (IPM) is essential for conservation agriculture, this method can be inadequate for severely infected fields. The ability to predict the potential occurrence of severe infestation of soil-borne disease would enable farmers to adopt suitable methods for high-risk areas, such as soil disinfestation, and apply other options for lower risk areas. Recently, researchers have used species distribution modeling (SDM) to predict the occurrence of target plant and animal species based on various environmental variables. In this study, we applied this technique to predict and map the occurrence probability of a soil-borne disease, Verticillium wilt, using cabbage as a case study.

Methods

A disease survey assessing the distribution of Verticillium wilt in cabbage fields in Tsumagoi village (central Honshu, Japan) was conducted two or three times annually from 1997 to 2013. Road density, elevation and topographic wetness index (TWI) were selected as explanatory variables for disease occurrence potential. A model of occurrence probability of Verticillium wilt was constructed using the MaxEnt software for SDM analysis. As the disease survey was mainly conducted in an agricultural area, the area was weighted as “Bias Grid” and area except for the agricultural area was set as background.

Results

Grids with disease occurrence showed a high degree of coincidence with those with a high probability occurrence. The highest contribution to the prediction of disease occurrence was the variableroad densityat 97.1%, followed byTWIat 2.3%, andelevationat 0.5%. The highest permutation importance wasroad densityat 93.0%, followed byTWIat 7.0%, while the variableelevationat 0.0%. This method of predicting disease probability occurrence can help with disease monitoring in areas with high probability occurrence and inform farmers about the selection of control measures.
Genetic Variability in Summer Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)
Authors: Sangam Surabhi , Kant Kamal , Akhtar Shirin , Kumari Neelu , Chattopadhyay Tirthartha , Kumar Randhir
Published: November 2020

Twenty two brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) genotypes were collected and grown in summer season and variability estimates were studied for twenty two different quality, yield, its attributing traits. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was obtained for characters like length of style, fruit girth, average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, yield per plant, total yield per hectare, total sugar, reducing sugar, titrable acidity, ascorbic acid, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and polyphenol oxidase. Heritability and genetic gain as percent of mean was observed to be high for characters such as plant height, number of primary branches, length of style, fruit length, fruit girth, average fruit weight, number of fruit per plant, yield per plant, total yield per hectare, TSS, total sugar, reducing sugar, titrable acidity, ascorbic acid, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and polyphenol oxidase. High heritability coupled with high predicted genetic gain suggests for selection based on these traits for enhancement of yield and quality.
Perception among Future Healthcare Providers about Treatment and Management of ALS
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad Zahid , Khan Salah-Ud-Din , Saad Eldowaik Mohamed Salah , Iqbal Muhammad Shahid
Published: November 2020

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the perception of future healthcare providers regarding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in a private medical university.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sampling method. A self-developed and pre-validated tool was used to collect data from students studying in three health care faculties of a university in Malaysia. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 24.0 was used to analyze the data.

Results: A total of 268 healthcare students from three faculties (medical, pharmacy and dental) participated in the current study More female students 183 (68.3%) participated than the male students 85 (31.7%) in current study.

Conclusion: Overall appropriate perception was observed among the studied future healthcare providers. The present study concluded that pharmacy students had more positive perception regarding ALS than the rest of the participants.
Identification of a 1,274‐bp promoter of a Musa acuminata L. aquaporin gene (MaPIP1;1) which confers salinity stress inducibility in transgenic Arabidopsis
Authors: Song Shun , Ma Funing , Huang Dongmei , Wu Bin , Ma Chaozhi , Li Jingyang , Li Yujia , Wei Qing , Sun Qiurong , Wang Wenquan , Xu Yi
Published: November 2020

Salt stress will seriously influence alt stress in banana (Musa L.) induces MaPIP1;1, which enhances the salt resistance of transgenic Arabidopsis. The promoter pMaPIP1;1, located 13,62 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site, was isolated from the banana genome, and four pMaPIP1;1::GUS fusion constructs namely M‐P1, M‐P2, M‐P3, and M‐P4 were used to transform into Arabidopsis. In this work, in order to functionally verify the promoter responds to high salt stress, we used NaCl treatment for simulating salt terms. NaCl treatment is responded to by four transformants. M‐P2 (−1,274 bp to −1) showed the highest transcriptional activity among all transgenic Arabidopsis transformants. This area of the promoter endows high glucuronidase (GUS) enzyme activity according to NaCl treatment. These results will help us understand the transcriptional regulatory of MaPIP1;1, and promoter fragment M‐P2 will be an ideal candidate for overexpression of salt response genes to increase plant resistance.
Efficient Defect Identification via Oxide Memristive Crossbar Array Based Morphological Image Processing
Authors: Lee Hee Sung , Baek Yongmin , Lin Qiubao , Minsu Chen Joseph , Park Minseong , Lee Doeon , Kim Sihwan , Lee Kyusang
Published: November 2020

Defect identification has been a significant task in various fields to prevent the potential problems caused by imperfection. There is great attention for developing technology to accurately extract defect information from the image using a computing system without human error. However, image analysis using conventional computing technology based on Von Neumann structure is facing bottlenecks to efficiently process the huge volume of input data at low power and high speed. Herein efficient defect identification is demonstrated via a morphological image process with minimal power consumption using an oxide transistor and a memristor‐based crossbar array that can be applied to neuromorphic computing. Using a hardware and software codesigned neuromorphic system combined with a dynamic Gaussian blur kernel operation, an enhanced defect detection performance is successfully demonstrated with about 104 times more power‐efficient computation compared to the conventional complementary metal‐oxide semiconductor (CMOS)‐based digital implementation. It is believed the back end of line (BEOL)‐compatible all‐oxide‐based memristive crossbar array provides the unique potential toward universal artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) applications where conventional hardware can hardly be used.
Efficacy of direct hemoperfusion for the removal of phenobarbital through blood concentration analysis
Authors: Mizushima Shohei , Hirose Yousuke , Yuzawa Hiroko , Kimura Tomonori , Oguchi Moe , Morito Tomohiro , Sadahiro Tomohito
Published: November 2020

Aim

Phenobarbital overdose can cause coma and even death. The consciousness disturbance is often prolonged due to its long half‐life. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of direct hemoperfusion (DHP) for the removal of phenobarbital by measuring the blood levels of phenobarbital.

Methods

Study subjects included five patients with phenobarbital poisoning who were transferred to our hospital. Direct hemoperfusion was carried out in three of the five patients (six times in total), and the elimination rate was calculated by measuring the blood levels before and after DHP. Furthermore, the disappearance rate of phenobarbital without DHP was calculated in all five patients (seven times in total) for comparison with the elimination rate.

Results

The elimination rate of phenobarbital with DHP was significantly higher than the disappearance rate without DHP．

Conclusion

This study suggests that early introduction of DHP should be considered as a treatment option for phenobarbital poisoning.
Network Fingerprint of Stimulation‐Induced Speech Impairment in Essential Tremor
Authors: Petry‐Schmelzer Jan Niklas , Jergas Hannah , Thies Tabea , Steffen Julia K. , Reker Paul , Dafsari Haidar S. , Mücke Doris , Fink Gereon R. , Visser‐Vandewalle Veerle , Dembek Till A. , Barbe Michael T.
Published: November 2020

Objective

This study was undertaken to gain insights into structural networks associated with stimulation‐induced dysarthria (SID) and to predict stimulation‐induced worsening of intelligibility in essential tremor patients with bilateral thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Methods

Monopolar reviews were conducted in 14 essential tremor patients. Testing included determination of SID thresholds, intelligibility ratings, and a fast syllable repetition task. Volumes of tissue activated (VTAs) were calculated to identify discriminative fibers for stimulation‐induced worsening of intelligibility in a structural connectome. The resulting fiber‐based atlas structure was then validated in a leave‐one‐out design.

Results

Fibers determined as discriminative for stimulation‐induced worsening of intelligibility were mainly connected to the ipsilateral precentral gyrus as well as to both cerebellar hemispheres and the ipsilateral brain stem. In the thalamic area, they ran laterally to the thalamus and posteromedially to the subthalamic nucleus, in close proximity, mainly anterolaterally, to fibers beneficial for tremor control as published by Al‐Fatly et al in 2019. The overlap of the respective clinical stimulation setting's VTAs with these fibers explained 62.4% (p < 0.001) of the variance of stimulation‐induced change in intelligibility in a leave‐one‐out analysis.

Interpretation

This study demonstrates that SID in essential tremor patients is associated with both motor cortex and cerebellar connectivity. Furthermore, the identified fiber‐based atlas structure might contribute to future postoperative programming strategies to achieve optimal tremor control without speech impairment in essential tremor patients with thalamic DBS. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:315–326
Additively Manufactured Semiflexible Titanium Lattices as Hydrogel Reinforcement for Biomedical Implants
Authors: Tosoratti Enrico , Incaviglia Ilaria , Liashenko Oleksii , Leinenbach Christian , Zenobi-Wong Marcy
Published: November 2020

Hydrogels are one of the most widespread biomaterials used in tissue engineering. However, they possess weak mechanical properties and are often unstable in load‐bearing applications in vivo. A novel class of flexible Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy lattices manufactured using laser powder bed fusion (L‐PBF) serves as a tunable reinforcement for hydrogels, providing them with additional mechanical stability and flexibility, while ensuring biocompatibility. A study on the design parameters of the structural elements of the lattices is performed to evaluate their influence on the mechanical properties of the structure. Mechanical testing of Ti–6Al–4V lattices shows a compressive modulus ranging from 38.9 to 895.5 kPa in the flexible direction. In the other two directions, the lattices are designed to have minimal flexibility. Lattices embedded in a 1% agarose hydrogel show a strain‐rate‐dependent, viscoelastic behavior given by the hydrogel component with the additional stiffness of the titanium lattice. Stress distribution upon loading is simulated using finite element analysis (FEA) and compared to experimental data using multiple regression statistical analysis. As a proof of concept, an intervertebral spinal disc implant is designed with mechanical properties matching the compressive moduli of the nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus reported in the literature.
Observation of the Reaction Intermediates of Methanol Dehydrogenation by Cationic Vanadium Clusters
Authors: Hou Gao‐Lei , Faragó Endre , Buzsáki Dániel , Nyulászi László , Höltzl Tibor , Janssens Ewald
Published: November 2020

A mass spectrometric study of the reactions of vanadium cationic clusters with methanol in a low‐pressure collision cell is reported. For comparison, the reaction of methanol with cobalt cationic clusters was studied. For vanadium, the main reaction products are fully dehydrogenated species, and partial dehydrogenation and non‐dehydrogenation species are observed as minors, for which the relative intensities increase with cluster size and also at low cluster source temperature cooled by liquid nitrogen; no dehydrogenation products were observed for cobalt clusters. Quantum chemical calculations explored the reaction pathways and revealed that the fully dehydrogenation products of the reaction between Vn+ and methanol are Vn(C)(O)+, in which C and O are separated owing to the high oxophilicity of vanadium. The partial dehydrogenation and non‐dehydrogenation species were verified to be reaction intermediates along the reaction pathway, and their most probable structures were proposed.
Highly Efficient and Selective N‐Formylation of Amines with CO2 and H2 Catalyzed by Porous Organometallic Polymers
Authors: Shen Yajing , Zheng Qingshu , Chen Zhe‐Ning , Wen Daheng , Clark James H. , Xu Xin , Tu Tao
Published: November 2020

The valorization of carbon dioxide (CO2) to fine chemicals is one of the most promising approaches for CO2 capture and utilization. Herein we demonstrated a series of porous organometallic polymers could be employed as highly efficient and recyclable catalysts for this purpose. Synergetic effects of specific surface area, iridium content, and CO2 adsorption capability are crucial to achieve excellent selectivity and yields towards N‐formylation of diverse amines with CO2 and H2 under mild reaction conditions even at 20 ppm catalyst loading. Density functional theory calculations revealed not only a redox‐neutral catalytic pathway but also a new plausible mechanism with the incorporation of the key intermediate formic acid via a proton‐relay process. Remarkably, a record turnover number (TON=1.58×106) was achieved in the synthesis of N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), and the solid catalysts can be reused up to 12 runs, highlighting their practical potential in industry.
The Fast and the Capacious: A [Ni(Salen)]‐TEMPO Redox‐Conducting Polymer for Organic Batteries
Authors: Vereshchagin Anatoliy A. , Lukyanov Daniil A. , Kulikov Ilia R. , Panjwani Naitik A. , Alekseeva Elena A. , Behrends Jan , Levin Oleg V.
Published: November 2020

Redox‐active nitroxyl‐containing polymers are promising candidates as possible replacements for inorganic based energy‐storage materials, due to their high energy density and fast redox kinetics. One challenge towards the implementation of such a system is the insufficient electrical conductivity, impeding the charge collection even with highly conductive additives. Herein, the first implementation of a polymeric bis(salicylideniminato) nickel (NiSalen) conductive backbone as an active charge‐collecting wire is reported. NiSalen simultaneously serves as a charge collector for nitroxyl pendants and supports the redox capacity of the material. This novel polymer exhibits a specific capacity of up to 91.5 mAh g−1, retaining 87 % of its theoretical capacity at 800 C and more than 30 % at as high as 3000 C (66 % capacity retention after 2000 cycles). The properties of the new material upon operation was studied by means of operando electrochemical methods, UV‐Vis, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Associations between genetic variants of KIF5B, FMN1, and MGAT3 in the cadherin pathway and pancreatic cancer risk
Authors: Zhao Lingling , Liu Hongliang , Luo Sheng , Moorman Patricia G. , Walsh Kyle M. , Li Wei , Wei Qingyi
Published: November 2020

Because the cadherin‐mediated signaling pathway promotes cancer progression, we assessed associations between genetic variants in 109 cadherin‐related genes and risk of pancreatic cancer (PanC) by using genotyping data from publically available genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) datasets comprising 15,423 individuals of European ancestry. After initial single‐locus analyses and subsequent meta‐analysis with multiple testing correction for 29,963 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 11 SNPs remained statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the stepwise logistic regression analysis, three independent PanC risk‐associated SNPs (KIF5B rs211304 C > G, FMN1 rs117648907 C > T, and MGAT3 rs34943118 T > C) remained statistically significant (p < 0.05), with odds ratios of 0.89 (95% confidence interval = 0.82–0.95 and p = 6.93 × 10−4), 1.33 (1.13–1.56 and 2.11 × 10−4), and 1.11 (1.05–1.17 and 8.10 × 10−5), respectively. Combined analysis of unfavorable genotypes of these three independent SNPs showed an upward trend in the genotype‐risk association (ptrend < 0.001). Expression quantitative trait loci analyses indicated that the rs211304 G and rs34943118 C alleles were associated with increased mRNA expression levels of KIF5B and MGAT3, respectively (all p < 0.05). Additional bioinformatics prediction suggested that these three SNPs may affect enhancer histone marks that likely have an epigenetic effect on the genes. Our findings provide biological clues for these PanC risk‐associated SNPs in cadherin‐related genes in European ancestry populations, possibly by regulating the expression of the affected genes. However, our findings need to be validated in additional population, molecular and mechanistic investigations.
Economic performance tracking for nonsquare MPCs based on a two‐layer approach
Authors: Santos José Eduardo W. , Farenzena Marcelo , Trierweiler Jorge O.
Published: November 2020

Range tracking for nonsquare systems is frequently adopted in process industries and its implementation is developed by model predictive control technologies. However, these approaches differ from those most considered in academia, with set‐point tracking and the same number of controlled and manipulated variables. In this scope, real‐time optimization (RTO) emerges as a diffused technology to improve the economic performance considering process, safety, and environmental constraints. In this work, a way to integrate economic aspects in industrial model predictive controllers (MPCs) by treating the nonlinear economic function as an output of the process model is proposed. The tracking error of the cost function is monitored, and its real value is estimated by a state estimator. The approach was applied to a nonsquare range system, exemplifying a continuous stirred‐tank reactor (CSTR) with Van de Vusse kinetics, and showed that it is capable of tracking the minimum cost operation robustly. The paper also compares the proposed strategy to the traditional RTO implementation, which provides optimized targets, and presents slight improvement in the steady‐state operation regarding the optimal cost seeking.
Atomistic Insights into Oxidation of Chemical Passivated Silicon (100) Surface: Reactive Molecular Dynamic Simulations
Authors: Yuan Shideng , Wang Xueyu , Zhang Heng , Yuan Shiling
Published: November 2020

Main observation and conclusion

In this paper, a series of ReaxFF molecular dynamic simulations were performed to study the oxidation of chemical passivated silicon (100) surface, which was terminated with differentn‐alkyl chains. The simulated results showed that the oxidant species diffuse into Si substrate through peroxy‐like structures during the oxidation process. During the oxidation process, the Si‐alkyl (Si—C) covalent bond was stable and there is no occurrence of decomposition of then‐alkyl chains. In addition, the existence ofn‐alkyl monolayers on silicon surface did not change the initial reaction pathway of the oxidation process. The simulations indicated that the chemical passivation mechanism includes two parts, one is about the Si—C covalent bond occupying the active site of the reaction on Si (100) surface, and the other is about the oxygen penetrating Si‐alkyl layers. The simulations also indicated that the chemical passivation of Si‐alkyl is better for longer alkyl chains, which is consistent with the experimental observation. Our results have investigated the oxidation of chemical passivated silicon (100) surface at the atom level, which is helpful to comprehend the manufacture of semiconductor devices like metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (MOS) devices in the experiments.
Chemical Gardens as Electrochemical Systems: In Situ Characterization of Simulated Prebiotic Hydrothermal Vents by Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Chin Keith , Pasalic Jasmina , Hermis Ninos , Barge Laura M.
Published: November 2020

In an early earth or planetary chimney systems, hydrothermal fluid chemistry and flow durations play a large role in the chimney's ability to drive electrochemical reactions for the origin of life. We performed continuous electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) characterization on inorganic membranes representing prebiotic hydrothermal chimney vents in natural seafloor systems, by incorporating an electrode array into a chimney growth experiment. Localized potential and capacitances profiles in the chimney reveal a dynamic system where redox processes are driven by transport phenomena, increasing rapidly due to disequilibrium until achieving equilibrium at about 100 mV and 1000 μF/cm2. The impedance in the chimney interior is three orders of magnitude lower (100 Ohms/cm2 vs 100 KOhms/cm2) than at the ocean or the ocean/chimney interface. The calculated peak dissipation factor (DF) values are more than ten times higher (40.0 vs 3.0) and also confirm the elevated chemical reactivity in the chimney interior.