bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ИДЕНТИФИКОВАТИ, ИСТРАЖИТИ, ВАЛОРИЗОВАТИ, ЗАШТИТИТИ, ПРЕЗЕНТОВАТИ И ПРЕДАТИ НАСЉЕДНИЦИМА
Authors: Наградић Слободан
Published: April 2019

Пред читаоцима и осталим чиниоцима јавности наше политичке заје-днице је први број часописа „Културно насљеђе“. Из више разлога, од којих су неки познати само потписнику овог уводника – због тога ће неколике реченице у овом прологу бити написане у првом лицу једнине, што и није баш уобичајено у написима ове врсте, садржаја и намјене, a чему иначе ни овај аутор није баш склон – на ту чињеницу морамо рећи: коначно! Поводом појаве првог броја првенца периодике Републичког завода за заштиту културно-историјског и природног насљеђа, сматрамо потребним читаоце, конзументе, кориснике, наречену јавност и, понајви-ше, садашње и будуће сараднике нашег гласила, упознати о чему се ради кад је ријеч о „Културном насљеђу“.
УЛОГА МЕДИЈА У ОЧУВАЊУ КУЛТУРНОГ ИДЕНТИТЕТА
Authors: Карановић Бојана
Published: April 2019

Културно насљеђе представља јединствену културну вријед-ност народа, јер указује на друштвени али и цјелокупни образовни, култур-ни и цивилизацијски ниво развоја. У том смислу, једна од основних норм-ативних улога медија је преношење културне баштине са генерације на генерацију. Међутим, овај аспект друштвене функције медија озбиљно је доведен у питање у савременој медијској пракси, прије свега, као посљедица процеса глобализације. Кроз аналазу улоге медија у глобалном друштву, у овом раду осврнућемо се на процес глобализације и питање очувања културног идентитета народа у савременом друштву.
СКЕЛАНИ – ЗНАЧАЈ И ЗАШТИТА
Authors: Срдић Љубица
Published: April 2019

Античко насеље муниципалног ранга у Скеланима, на ли-јевој обали Дрине, је у археолошким ископавањима 2008. те 2014, 2015. и2016. године показало оправданост проглашења археолошким комплек-сом од изузетног значаја. Због површине које насеље заузима, то пот-врђују остаци грађевина различите намјене и покретни материјал, прона-ђен у овим истраживања.
Четврта међународна конференција „Византијски споменици и свјетско насљеђе IV: Повеља за заштиту византијских споменика“
Authors: Окиљ Милијана
Published: April 2019

Четврта међународна конференција "Византијски споменици и свјетско на-сљеђе" је одржана од 30. новембра до 2. децембра у Солуну у Грчкој. Кон-ференцију је организовао Европски центар за византијске и поствизантиј-ске споменике (EKBMM – The European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byza-ntine Monuments) под покровитељством Хеленског националног комитета за UNESCO, а одржана је у амфитеатру „Стефанос Драгумис“ Музеја ви-зантијске културе. То је уједно била водећа и завршна манифестација Евро-пске године културне баштине у Грчкој.
ЗНАМЕНИТОСТИ САРАЈЕВА У НОВОМ КОНТЕКСТУ
Authors: Наградић Слободан
Published: April 2019

Полазимо од претпоставке да ће, можда, прва, спонтана реакција неупуће-них а добронамјерних читалаца и осталих „љубитеља“ литературе, на поја-ву књиге пред нама, бити садржана у питању формулисаном као: чему (и коме) још једна, нова књига о Сарајеву, кад их већ, до сад написаних, има толико много. И непрочитаних. Или, можда, недочитаних. Разумије се, пи-тање је сасвим легитимно и невино, као што је и свако друго питање невино, и оно потражује адекватан одговор. Овај осврт је покушај једног могућег одговора, тачније: прилог разумијевању питања због чега је (било) потребно и корисно публиковати још једну књигу о Сарајеву и његовој околини у прошлости, али и садашњости.
Intensive luminescence from a thick, indium-rich In0.7Ga0.3N film
Authors: Sheng Bowen , Bertram Frank , Zheng Xiantong , Wang Ping , Schmidt Gordon , Veit Peter , Bläsing Jürgen , Chen Zhaoying , Strittmatter André , Christen Jürgen , Shen Bo , Wang Xinqiang
Published: April 2019

An In0.7Ga0.3N layer with a thickness of 300 nm deposited on GaN/sapphire template by molecular beam epitaxy has been investigated by highly spatially resolved cathodoluminescence (CL). High crystal film quality without phase separation has been achieved. The InGaN layer shows intense emission in the IR spectral region. The lateral as well as the vertical luminescence distribution is used to probe the In composition ([In]) homogeneity: the thick InGaN film exhibits laterally a rather homogeneous emission intensity at 1.04 eV (∼1185 nm) with a FWHM of only 63 meV. Carrier localization into regions of enhanced In concentration originating from compositional fluctuations is revealed. The evolution of emission in growth direction has been explored by a cross-sectional CL linescan showing a slight spectral redshift from the bottom to the surface of the InGaN film corresponding to an increase of [In] of only 0.5% within the layer thickness of 300 nm.
Patient-reported fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who commence biologic therapy: a longitudinal study
Authors: Rinke Hege Selheim , Gjesdal Clara Beate Gram , Markussen Heidi , Assmus Jörg , Natvig Gerd Karin
Published: April 2019

Aims and objectives

To examine changes in patient-reported fatigue, over a twelve month period, in rheumatoid arthritis patients who commence biologic treatment, and to identify possible predictors for such changes.

Background

Fatigue is a burdensome symptom for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Despite biologics being effective in reducing disease activity, patients still report fatigue.

Design

A longitudinal observational study.

Methods

A total of 48 patients were enrolled in the study. Fatigue was measured by the Fatigue Severity Scale. Independent samples T-tests were used to test gender differences, and paired samples T-tests were used to measure differences between repeated measures. Bivariate and multiple regression analyses were used to examine potential predictors for changes in fatigue, such as age, sex, Disease Activity Score 28, pain and physical and emotional well-being.

Results

Forty-seven patients completed the study. From baseline to 12-month follow-up, fatigue decreased significantly in both women and men. Analyses of predictors were performed step-wise, and the final model included sex and physical well-being. The results from this final step showed that female sex was the only significant predictor for changes in fatigue.

Conclusion

Patients commencing biologic therapy reported a significant reduction in fatigue. Female sex was a significant predictor of changes in fatigue.

Relevance to clinical practice

Despite improvements in pharmacological treatment, patients with rheumatoid arthritis still report fatigue. This is a multifaceted health problem encompassing personal and emotional factors in addition to the clinical factors directly connected to the disease.
Modelling of Hydration Characteristics of Five Varieties of Cowpea Grains
Authors: Isa J. , Oyerinde A. S. , Jimoh K. A. , Jegede A. O.
Published: April 2019

Introduction: The hydration of grains is a process that consists of soaking them in water in order to increase their moisture content and this is a crucial step in industrialized processing and provides several beneficial effects on their physicochemical and nutritional qualities.

Aims: This study focused on modeling of hydration characteristics of five varieties of cowpea which are: Gombe, Oloyin white, Drum, Oloyin brown and Sokoto cultivated in Nigeria.

Methodology: The experiments were carried out using electronic water bath at five temperatures (30, 40, 50, 60, and 70°C) in three replications. The amount of water absorption by five selected varieties of cowpea grains was calculated by measuring the increase in the mass of soaked grains per time. Five standard models of water absorption were fitted to the experimental data. Coefficient of determination (R2), chi-square (x2) and root mean square error (RMSE) were used to evaluate the models.

Results: The initial moisture content of the saturated cowpea was estimated as 13.56 ±1.15, 15.05 ±2.27, 13.30 ±0.37, 10.85 ±0.13, 12.40 ±0.13 for Gombe, Oloyin white, Drum, Oloyin brown and Sokoto varieties respectively. The water uptake of the cowpea was faster at the initial stage and gradually slow down until the equilibrium moisture content was attained for all the varieties.

Conclusions: Weibull model was adjudged as the best fitted model for describing the water absorption property of all the varieties of the cowpea and the Activation energy of Gombe, Oloyin white, Drum, Oloyin brown and Sokoto varieties are 42.26 ± 4.65, 40.36 ±8.90, 39.47 ±8.62, 43.08 ±5.25 and 39.66 ±6.72 respectively.
Nonlinear Finite Element Modelling for Reinforced Concrete Beams Retrofitted with FRP in Bending
Authors: Mattar Ihab Samir Abdou Ibrahim
Published: April 2019

For the purpose of simulating the behaviour of reinforced concrete (R.C)[1] beams retrofitted with fibre-reinforced polymers/plastics (FRP)[2] in bending, a finite element (FE)[3] modelling procedure has been developed throughout this paper. The FE software package ABAQUS CAE 6.11-3 was used. The data required for such modelling process are boundary conditions, geometric and material properties. Non-available material properties are obtained through experimentally verified numerical material models. FRP isotropic and orthotropic material models are compared; both models nearly yielded similar results. Also, perfect bond model and cohesive zone model for the interface between concrete and FRP have been compared. Unlike the perfect bond model, the cohesive zone model captured the debonding. The modelling procedure was validated through its application to R.C beams retrofitted with FRP in bending. The FE model results were compared to experimental results where both results were highly correlated. Such results include load-deflection curves and cracking pattern. The effect of sheet width and number of FRP layers is emphasized through performing a parametric study. Increasing sheet width is only effective at longer sheet lengths regarding increasing both; stiffness and load carrying capacity. Upon increasing the number of FRP layers, only shifting of the yielding point of reinforcement was noticed.
Macromolecular Machineries in Cell‐Wall Recycling
Authors: Batuecas María T , Hermoso Juan A
Published: April 2019

Peptidoglycan, the major constituent of bacterial cell wall, is a huge polymeric macromolecule composed of glycan strands covalently linked by interconnecting peptide stems and critical for survival of bacteria. Peptidoglycan is constantly edited, biosynthesised and degraded, during essential bacterial processes such as division, elongation or insertion of the cellular machinery (e.g. flagella, pili) into cell wall. Degradation fragments are recovered, especially in Gram‐negative bacteria, by active transport and recycled to rebuild the wall. In some important Gram‐negative pathogens, β‐lactam resistance is directly linked to peptidoglycan recycling. The recycling process requires orchestration of different lytic enzymes and transporters from periplasm, the inner membrane, to cytoplasm. Recent structural and functional studies have provided relevant insights into enzymatic regulation, substrate specificity and activity of the lytic machineries involved in recycling with relevant implications in antibiotics resistance.

Key Concepts

Peptidoglycan recycling is an essential process in Gram‐negative bacteria that recovers self‐degradation products of cell wall in the cytoplasm to reutilise them to rebuild the wall.

PG recycling is important in cell‐wall biosynthesis and in bacterial communication in many bacteria, and in antibiotics resistance in some pathogens from Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae families.

PG recycling involves a large number of enzymes and transporters spanning from periplasm, inner and outer membranes, and cytoplasm.

Lytic transglycosylases (LTs) are periplasmic and, typically, modular enzymes that initiate PG recycling by non‐hydrolytic degradation of glycan chains. They are classified in six families. Several LTs are found in each Gram‐negative bacterium.

The Slt structure reveals how, under the effect of β‐lactam antibiotics, the cell wall is repaired by degradation of aberrant nascent PG chains and how it initiates the resistance phenotype.

MltF is a modular membrane‐bound LT that experiences allosteric activation triggered by muropeptides.

PG amidases are present in periplasm and cytoplasm. Activity in periplasm is regulated by cellular location, protein–protein interactions and oligomeric state. An activation mechanism has been discovered for cytosolic enzymes.

Anhydro‐muropeptides are the key molecules to activate the AmpR to induce AmpC β‐lactamase in response to β‐lactam challenge.

Regulation (in space and time) of the catalytic processes as well as of interaction between different partners is essential in PG recycling enzymes.
IL4‐Receptor‐Targeted Dual Antitumoral Apoptotic Peptide—siRNA Conjugate Lipoplexes
Authors: Luo Jie , Höhn Miriam , Reinhard Sören , Loy Dominik M. , Klein Philipp Michael , Wagner Ernst
Published: April 2019

Targeted delivery remains the major limitation in the development of small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics. The successful siRNA multistep delivery requires precise carriers of substantial complexity. To achieve this, a monodisperse carrier is presented, synthesized by solid‐phase supported chemistry. The sequence‐defined assembly contains two oleic acids attached to a cationizable oligoaminoamide backbone in T‐shape configuration, and a terminal azide functionality for coupling to the atherosclerotic plaque‐specific peptide‐1 (AP‐1) as the cell targeting ligand for interleukin‐4 receptor (IL‐4R) which is overexpressed in a variety of solid cancers. For combined cytosolic delivery with siRNA, different apoptotic peptides (KLK, BAK, and BAD) are covalently conjugated via bioreversible disulfide linkage to the 5′‐end of the siRNA sense strand. siRNA‐KLK conjugates provide the highest antitumoral potency. The optimized targeted carrier is complexed with dual antitumoral siEG5‐KLK conjugates. The functionality of each subdomain is individually confirmed. The lipo‐oligomer confers stable assembly of siRNA conjugates into spherical 150–250 nm sized nanoparticles. Click‐shielding with dibenzocyclootyne‐PEG‐AP‐1 (DBCO‐PEG‐AP‐1) mediates an IL‐4R‐specific cell targeting and gene silencing in tumor cells. Most importantly, formulation of the siEG5‐KLK conjugate displays enhanced apoptotic tumor cell killing due to the combined effect of mitotic arrest by EG5 gene silencing and mitochondrial membrane disruption by KLK.
Designing Bioinspired 2D MoSe2 Nanosheet for Efficient Photothermal‐Triggered Cancer Immunotherapy with Reprogramming Tumor‐Associated Macrophages
Authors: He Lizhen , Nie Tianqi , Xia Xiaojun , Liu Ting , Huang Yanyu , Wang Xiaojuan , Chen Tianfeng
Published: April 2019

Nonspecific absorption and clearance of nanomaterials during circulation is the major cause for treatment failure in nanomedicine‐based cancer therapy. Therefore, herein bioinspired red blood cell (RBC) membrane is employed to camouflage 2D MoSe2 nanosheets with high photothermal conversion efficiency to achieve enhanced hemocompatibility and circulation time by preventing macrophage phagocytosis. RBC–MoSe2‐potentiated photothermal therapy (PTT) demonstrates potent in vivo antitumor efficacy, which triggers the release of tumor‐associated antigens to activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes and inactivate the PD‐1/PD‐L1 pathway to avoid immunologic escape. Furthermore, in the ablated tumor microenvironment, the tumor‐associated macrophages are effectively reprogrammed to tumoricidal M1 phenotype to potentiate the antitumor action. Taken together, this biomimetic functionalization thus provides a substantial advance in personalized PTT‐triggered immunotherapy for clinical translation.
Semitransparent, Flexible, and Self‐Powered Photodetectors Based on Ferroelectricity‐Assisted Perovskite Nanowire Arrays
Authors: Cao Fengren , Tian Wei , Wang Meng , Cao Heping , Li Liang
Published: April 2019

Transparent and flexible photodetectors hold great promise in next‐generation portable and wearable optoelectronic devices. However, most of the previously reported devices need an external energy power source to drive its operation or require complex fabrication processes. Herein, designed is a semitransparent, flexible, and self‐powered photodetector based on the integrated ferroelectric poly(vinylidene‐fluoride‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) and perovskite nanowire arrays on the flexible polyethylene naphthalate substrate via a facile imprinting method. Through optimizing the treatment conditions, including polarization voltage, polarization time, and the concentration of P(VDF‐TrFE), the resulting device exhibits remarkable detectivity (7.3 × 1012 Jones), fast response time (88/154 µs) at zero bias, as well as outstanding mechanical stability. The excellent performance is attributed to the efficient charge separation and transport originating from the highly oriented 1D transport pathway and the polarization‐induced internal electric field within P(VDF‐TrFE)/perovskite hybrid nanowire arrays.
Direct Writing of a 90 wt% Particle Loading Nanothermite
Authors: Wang Haiyang , Shen Jinpeng , Kline Dylan J. , Eckman Noah , Agrawal Niti R. , Wu Tao , Wang Peng , Zachariah Michael R.
Published: April 2019

The additive manufacturing of energetic materials has received worldwide attention. Here, an ink formulation is developed with only 10 wt% of polymers, which can bind a 90 wt% nanothermite using a simple direct‐writing approach. The key additive in the ink is a hybrid polymer of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) in which the former serves as an energetic initiator and a binder, and the latter is a thickening agent and the other binder, which can form a gel. The rheological shear‐thinning properties of the ink are critical to making the formulation at such high loadings printable. The Young's modulus of the printed stick is found to compare favorably with that of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), with a particle packing density at the theoretical maximum. The linear burn rate, mass burn rate, flame temperature, and heat flux are found to be easily adjusted by varying the fuel/oxidizer ratio. The average flame temperatures are as high as ≈2800 K with near‐complete combustion being evident upon examination of the postcombustion products.
Wearable and Skin‐Mountable Fiber‐Optic Strain Sensors Interrogated by a Free‐Running, Dual‐Comb Fiber Laser
Authors: Guo Jingjing , Zhao Kangjun , Zhou Bingqian , Ning Wen , Jiang Kaili , Yang Changxi , Kong Lingjie , Dai Qionghai
Published: April 2019

Wearable and skin‐mountable strain sensors are highly demanding for monitoring skin deformations induced by human activities. Realization of such sensor devices based on fiber‐optic approaches offers attractive advantages such as electromagnetic immunity and inherent electric safety in comparison to their electronic counterparts. However, fiber‐optic sensors, conventionally made of stiff silica fibers, are not mechanically compliant with the soft human skins and have limited strain range (<1%) for measuring large deformations. Here, a stretchable fiber Bragg grating (FBG)‐based optical (SFO) strain sensor with skin‐like compliance for human activity monitoring is presented. The SFO sensor is fabricated by a sinuous‐shaped FBG incorporated with a stretchable substrate that responds to strain deformations by shifting of the Bragg wavelength. This structural design enables measurement of various dynamic strains associated with tension, bending and torsion in a large sensing range up to 50%. To facilitate wearable integrations, a novel free‐running fiber laser with coherent dual‐comb output is developed to interrogate the SFO sensors by dual‐comb spectroscopy, which enables fast spectral acquisition with a single photodiode. It is shown that the SFO strain sensors can be used for wearable and skin‐mountable detection of diverse human activities including breathing, phonation, facial expression, and joint movements in real time.
A Room‐Temperature Molten Hydrate Electrolyte for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries
Authors: Chen Chih‐Yao , Matsumoto Kazuhiko , Kubota Keigo , Hagiwara Rika , Xu Qiang
Published: April 2019

Aqueous Zn‐based batteries are attracting extensive interest because of their economic feasibility and potentially high energy density. However, poor rechargeability of Zn anode in conventional electrolytes resulting from dendrite formation and self‐corrosion hinders their practical implementation. Herein, a Zn molten hydrate composed of inorganic Zn salt and water is demonstrated as an advantageous electrolyte for solving these issues. In this electrolyte, dendrite‐free Zn deposition/dissolution reaction with a high Coulombic efficiency (≈99%) as well as long‐term stability, free from CO2 poisoning are realized. The resultant Zn–air cell exhibits a reversible capacity of 1000 mAh g(catalyst)−1 over 100 cycles at 30 °C. Combined with the intrinsic safety associated with aqueous chemistry and cost benefit of the raw material, the present Zn–air battery makes a strong candidate for large‐scale energy storage.
Climatic adaptation in human inferior nasal turbinate morphology: Evidence from Arctic and equatorial populations
Authors: Marks Tarah N. , Maddux Scott D. , Butaric Lauren N. , Franciscus Robert G.
Published: April 2019

Objectives

The nasal turbinates directly influence the overall size, shape, and surface area of the nasal passages, and thus contribute to intranasal heat and moisture exchange. However, unlike the encapsulating walls of the nasal cavity, ecogeographic variation in nasal turbinate morphology among humans has not yet been established. Here we investigate variation in inferior nasal turbinate morphology in two populations from climatically extreme environments.

Materials and methods

Twenty‐three linear measurements of the inferior turbinate, nasal cavity walls, and airway passages were collected from CT scans of indigenous modern human crania from Equatorial Africa (n = 35) and the Arctic Circle (n = 35). MANOVA and ANCOVA were employed to test for predicted regional and sex differences in morphology between the samples.

Results

Significant morphological differences were identified between the two regional samples, with no evidence of significant sexual dimorphism or region‐sex interaction effect. Individuals from the Arctic Circle possessed superoinferiorly and mediolaterally larger inferior turbinates compared to Equatorial Africans. In conjunction with the surrounding nasal cavity walls, these differences in turbinate morphology produced airway dimensions that were both consistent with functional expectations and more regionally distinct than either skeletal component independently.

Conclusion

This study documents the existence of ecogeographic variation in human nasal turbinate morphology reflecting climate‐mediated evolutionary demands on intranasal heat and moisture exchange. Humans adapted to cold‐dry environments exhibit turbinate morphologies that enhance contact between respired air and nasal mucosa to facilitate respiratory air conditioning. Conversely, humans adapted to hot‐humid environments exhibit turbinate morphologies that minimize air‐to‐mucosa contact, likely to minimize airflow resistance and/or facilitate expiratory heat‐shedding.
A Peanut‐Shaped Polyaromatic Capsule: Solvent‐Dependent Transformation and Electronic Properties of a Non‐Contacted Fullerene Dimer
Authors: Matsumoto Kyosuke , Kusaba Shunsuke , Tanaka Yuya , Sei Yoshihisa , Akita Munetaka , Aritani Kazushi , Haga Masa‐aki , Yoshizawa Michito
Published: April 2019

Synthesis of molecular containers capable of incorporating multiple fullerenes remains challenging. Reported here is that room‐temperature mixing of metal ions with W‐shaped bispyridine ligands featuring polyaromatic panels results in the quantitative formation of a peanut‐shaped M2L4 capsule. The capsule reversibly converts into two molecules of an ML2 double tube in response to changes in the solvent. Notably, the capsule allows the incorporation of two fullerene molecules into the connected two spherical cavities at room temperature. The close proximity yet non‐contact of the encapsulated C60 molecules, with a separation of 6.4 Å, was revealed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The resultant, unusual fullerene dimer undergoes sequential reduction within the capsule to generate (C60.−)2, C60.−⋅C602−, and (C602−)2 species. Furthermore, temperature‐controlled stepwise incorporation of two C60 molecules into the capsule is demonstrated.
Functional Polyion Complex Vesicles Enabled by Supramolecular Reversible Coordination Polyelectrolytes
Authors: Zhou Wenjuan , Wang Jiahua , Ding Peng , Guo Xuhong , Cohen Stuart Martien A. , Wang Junyou
Published: April 2019

Reported here is a new class of PICsomes (vesicles formed by polyelectrolyte complexation) in which the anionic/neutral diblock copolymer is replaced by an anionic, reversible, supramolecular polyelectrolyte based on metal–ligand coordination. This supramolecular polyelectrolyte forms exclusively inside the wall of the assembly, and therefore self‐adjusts its length to that of the cationic block provided. Moreover, the supramolecular coordination polyelectrolytes introduce new and tunable properties and functions associated with the specific metal. As a proof‐of‐concept Mn‐based PICsomes were prepared and display high magnetic relaxivity, as well as enhanced contrast in in vitro magnetic resonance imaging tests. The simplicity of our approach, together with the new functions derived from the metal ions, demonstrates a robust strategy for the preparation of a variety of PICsomes with well‐defined and tunable structures and properties.
Google classroom as a learning management system to teach biochemistry in a medical school
Authors: Dash Sambit
Published: April 2019

Medical education has adopted various e‐learning technologies to its aid. Addition of Google Classroom, introduced in 2014, as a Learning Management System (LMS) has provided a basic, easy to use platform. This study tested its efficacy in teaching a biochemistry module to first year MBBS students in an Indian medical school. Better access to learning material and supplementary teaching resources, helpfulness of immediate feedback, and learning outside of class environment were reported by students. Preference of mobile phone over laptop to access this LMS was reported. Use of this free to use LMS can be made, and especially in resource limited low and middle income countries, to encourage greater access to e‐learning. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(4):404–407, 2019.
A Rational Design of Cu2O−SnO2 Core‐Shell Catalyst for Highly Selective CO2‐to‐CO Conversion
Authors: Zhang Sheng‐Nian , Li Meng , Hua Bin , Duan Nanqi , Ding Shaochen , Bergens Steven , Shankar Karthik , Luo Jing‐Li
Published: April 2019

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) is a versatile method that is capable of simultaneously reduce CO2 emission and produce valuable fuels and chemicals. However, its application is hindered by the lack of cost‐effective catalysts and significant overpotential requirement. In this work, we report a low‐cost and surfactant/capping agent free method to synthesize cubic Cu2O−SnO2 core‐shell electrocatalyst, whose thickness can be easily controlled by the content of tin precursor. The optimized Cu2O−SnO2 catalyst with a 5 nm‐thick shell achieved over 90 % faradaic efficiency towards CO at a low overpotential of 390 mV, which is comparable to some of the noble metal catalysts. The catalyst also exhibited good stability over 18 hours of test at −0.6 V vs. RHE in 0.5 M KHCO3 electrolyte. This work provides a widely applicable strategy for developing a low‐cost electrocatalyst for CO2 conversion.
A comprehensive survey of security threats and their mitigation techniques for next‐generation SDN controllers
Authors: Han Tao , Jan Syed Rooh Ullah , Tan Zhiyuan , Usman Muhammad , Jan Mian Ahmad , Khan Rahim , Xu Yongzhao
Published: April 2019

Software Defined Network (SDN) and Network Virtualization (NV) are emerged paradigms that simplified the control and management of the next generation networks, most importantly, Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, and Cyber‐Physical Systems. The Internet of Things (IoT) includes a diverse range of a vast collection of heterogeneous devices that require interoperable communication, scalable platforms, and security provisioning. Security provisioning to an SDN‐based IoT network poses a real security challenge leading to various serious security threats due to the connection of various heterogeneous devices having a wide range of access protocols. Furthermore, the logical centralized controlled intelligence of the SDN architecture represents a plethora of security challenges due to its single point of failure. It may throw the entire network into chaos and thus expose it to various known and unknown security threats and attacks. Security of SDN controlled IoT environment is still in infancy and thus remains the prime research agenda for both the industry and academia. This paper comprehensively reviews the current state‐of‐the‐art security threats, vulnerabilities, and issues at the control plane. Moreover, this paper contributes by presenting a detailed classification of various security attacks on the control layer. A comprehensive state‐of‐the‐art review of the latest mitigation techniques for various security breaches is also presented. Finally, this paper presents future research directions and challenges for further investigation down the line.
Reactivating Li2O with Nano‐Sn to Achieve Ultrahigh Initial Coulombic Efficiency SiO Anodes for Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Fu Rusheng , Wu Yongkang , Fan Chongzhao , Long Zuxin , Shao Guangjie , Liu Zhaoping
Published: April 2019

The application of SiO anodes in Li‐ion batteries is greatly restricted by its low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE). Usually, a pre‐lithiation procedure is necessary to improve the ICE, but the available technologies are associated with safety issues. Metal (M)‐mixed SiO shows great promise to address these issues by reactivating Li2O through the reaction M+Li2O→MOx+Li+, which is the inverse reaction to that occurring at MOx anodes. Sn is found to be a good choice of metal for this concept. Nanoscale Sn‐mixed SiO composites are prepared by mechanical milling. Sn forms an outstanding conductive phase, which boosts the reaction kinetics and also reactivates the Li2O byproduct. Sn/SiO (1:2 w/w) delivers a significant improvement in ICE from 66.5 % to 85.5 %. A higher ICE value of >90 % is obtained when the Sn content is ≥50 wt %. However, additional electrolyte decomposition occurs, which is catalyzed by Sn. In addition, coarsening of the nano‐Sn material reduces the inverse conversion reactivity of Sn/Li2O and subsequently results in rapid capacity fading. The quantitative analysis indicates that, in contrast to transition metals, the alloying and dealloying nature of Sn gives a 50 % improvement in reversible capacity, attributed to Sn/Li2O. This work gives a general strategy to choose metals for increasing the ICE of SiOx and metal oxides.
The stoichiometric legacy of fire regime regulates the roles of micro‐organisms and invertebrates in decomposition
Authors: Butler Orpheus M. , Lewis Tom , Rezaei Rashti Mehran , Maunsell Sarah C. , Elser James J. , Chen Chengrong
Published: April 2019

Decadal‐scale increases in fire frequency have the potential to deplete ecosystems of essential nutrients and consequently impede nutrient‐limited biological processes via stoichiometric imbalance. Decomposition, a fundamental ecosystem function and strong driver of future fire occurrence, is highly sensitive to nutrient availability and is, therefore, particularly important in this context. Here we show that 40 yr of quadrennial (4yB) and biennial (2yB) prescribed burning result in severely P‐ and N‐depleted litter stoichiometry, respectively, relative to fire exclusion. These effects exacerbated the nutrient limitation of microbial activities, constraining litter decomposition by 42.1% (4yB) and 23.6% (2yB) relative to unburned areas. However, invertebrate‐driven decomposition largely compensated for the diminished capacity of micro‐organisms under 4yB, suggesting that invertebrates could have an important stabilizing influence in fire‐affected ecosystems. This effect was strongly positively coupled with the strength of microbial P‐limitation and was not obviously or directly driven by fire regime‐induced changes in invertebrate community assemblage. Together, our results reveal that high‐frequency fire regimes promote nutrient‐poor, carbon‐rich ecosystem stoichiometry and, in doing so, disrupt ecosystem processes and modify the relative functionality of micro‐organisms and invertebrates.
Parallels between Metal‐Ligand Cooperativity and Frustrated Lewis Pairs
Authors: Habraken Evi R. M. , Jupp Andrew R. , Brands Maria B. , Nieger Martin , Ehlers Andreas W. , Slootweg J. Chris
Published: April 2019

Metal ligand cooperativity (MLC) and frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chemistry both feature the cooperative action of a Lewis acidic and a Lewis basic site on a substrate. A lot of work has been carried out in the field of FLPs to prevent Lewis adduct formation, which often reduces the FLP reactivity. Parallels are drawn between the two systems by looking at their reactivity with CO2, and we explore the role of steric bulk in preventing dimer formation in MLC systems.
Bioinspired Oxidative Cleavage of Aliphatic C–C Bonds Utilizing Aerial Oxygen by Nickel Acireductone Dioxygenase Mimics
Authors: Raje Sakthi , Mani Kalaikodikumaran , Kandasamy Parameswaran , Butcher Ray J. , Angamuthu Raja
Published: April 2019

Invited for the cover of this issue is Raja Angamuthu from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India. The cover image shows the oxidative cleavage of aliphatic C–C bonds of the acireductone model substrate bound to the nickel(II) center. The scissors point to the C–C bonds that are cleaved.
Guidelines on the use of structure‐from‐motion photogrammetry in geomorphic research
Authors: James Mike R. , Chandler Jim H. , Eltner Anette , Fraser Clive , Miller Pauline E. , Mills Jon P. , Noble Tom , Robson Stuart , Lane Stuart N.
Published: April 2019

As a topographic modelling technique, structure‐from‐motion (SfM) photogrammetry combines the utility of digital photogrammetry with a flexibility and ease of use derived from multi‐view computer vision methods. In conjunction with the rapidly increasing availability of imagery, particularly from unmanned aerial vehicles, SfM photogrammetry represents a powerful tool for geomorphological research. However, to fully realize this potential, its application must be carefully underpinned by photogrammetric considerations, surveys should be reported in sufficient detail to be repeatable (if practical) and results appropriately assessed to understand fully the potential errors involved. To deliver these goals, robust survey and reporting must be supported through (i) using appropriate survey design, (ii) applying suitable statistics to identify systematic error (bias) and to estimate precision within results, and (iii) propagating uncertainty estimates into the final data products. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Natural History of Advanced Fibrosis Due to Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Data From the Simtuzumab Trials
Authors: Sanyal Arun J. , Harrison Stephen A. , Ratziu Vlad , Abdelmalek Manal F. , Diehl Anna Mae , Caldwell Stephen , Shiffman Mitchell L. , Aguilar Schall Raul , Jia Catherine , McColgan Bryan , Djedjos C. Stephen , McHutchison John G. , Subramanian G. Mani , Myers Robert P. , Younossi Zobair , Muir Andrew J. , Afdhal Nezam H. , Bosch Jaime , Goodman Zachary
Published: April 2019

Progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is incompletely characterized. We analyzed data on longitudinal changes in liver histology, hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), and serum markers of fibrosis in 475 patients with NASH with bridging fibrosis (F3) or compensated cirrhosis (F4) enrolled in two phase 2b, placebo‐controlled trials of simtuzumab. The trials were terminated after 96 weeks because of lack of efficacy, so data from treatment groups were combined. Liver biopsies and HVPG measurements (only for patients with F4 fibrosis) were collected at screening and at weeks 48 and 96. Patients were assessed for Ishak fibrosis stage, hepatic collagen content and alpha‐smooth muscle actin (by morphometry), NAFLD Activity Score (NAS), and serum markers of fibrosis. Associations with progression to cirrhosis (in patients with F3 fibrosis) and liver‐related clinical events (in patients with F4 fibrosis) were determined. Progression to cirrhosis occurred in 22% (48/217) of F3 patients, and liver‐related clinical events occurred in 19% (50/258) of patients with cirrhosis. Factors significantly associated with progression to cirrhosis included higher baseline values of and greater increases in hepatic collagen content, level of alpha‐smooth muscle actin, and Enhanced Liver Fibrosis score. Similar factors, plus lack of fibrosis stage improvement (hazard ratio, 9.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.28‐67.37), higher HVPG at baseline, and greater increase in HVPG over time, were associated with an increased risk of liver‐related clinical events in patients with cirrhosis. Disease progression was not associated with the NAS at baseline or changes in NAS during treatment after adjustment for fibrosis stage. Conclusion: In patients with advanced fibrosis due to NASH, the primary determinant of clinical disease progression is fibrosis and its change over time.
Rats bred for high anxiety exhibit distinct fear‐related coping behavior, hippocampal physiology, and synaptic plasticity‐related gene expression
Authors: Widman Allie J. , Cohen Joshua L. , McCoy Chelsea R. , Unroe Keaton A. , Glover Matthew E. , Khan Anas U. , Bredemann Teruko , McMahon Lori L. , Clinton Sarah M.
Published: April 2019

The hippocampus is essential for learning and memory but also regulates emotional behavior. We previously identified the hippocampus as a major brain region that differs in rats bred for emotionality differences. Rats bred for low novelty response (LRs) exhibit high levels of anxiety‐ and depression‐like behavior compared to high novelty responder (HR) rats. Manipulating the hippocampus of high‐anxiety LR rats improves their behavior, although no work to date has examined possible HR/LR differences in hippocampal synaptic physiology. Thus, the current study examined hippocampal slice electrophysiology, dendritic spine density, and transcriptome profiling in HR/LR hippocampus, and compared performance on three hippocampus‐dependent tasks: The Morris water maze, contextual fear conditioning, and active avoidance. Our physiology experiments revealed increased long‐term potentiation (LTP) at CA3–CA1 synapses in HR versus LR hippocampus, and Golgi analysis found an increased number of dendritic spines in basal layer of CA1 pyramidal cells in HR versus LR rats. Transcriptome data revealed glutamate neurotransmission as the top functional pathway differing in the HR/LR hippocampus. Our behavioral experiments showed that HR/LR rats exhibit similar learning and memory capability in the Morris water maze, although the groups differed in fear‐related tasks. LR rats displayed greater freezing behavior in the fear‐conditioning task, and HR/LR rats adopted distinct behavioral strategies in the active avoidance task. In the active avoidance task, HRs avoided footshock stress by pressing a lever when presented with a warning cue; LR rats, on the other hand, waited until footshocks began before pressing the lever to stop them. Taken together, these findings concur with prior observations of HR rats generally exhibiting active stress coping behavior while LRs exhibit reactive coping. Overall, our current findings coupled with previous work suggest that HR/LR differences in stress reactivity and stress coping may derive, at least in part, from differences in the developing and adult hippocampus.
Promoting patient safety in Bhutan: Challenges and priority strategies for accelerating progress
Authors: Pelzang Rinchen
Published: April 2019

Patient safety is a fundamental principle of quality health care. In Bhutan, which is a resource poor nation, improving patient safety in the health care context is a challenge. Bhutan requires sound patient safety policies and strategies to mitigate safety issues in the health care system. Drawing upon the available literature on patient safety in Bhutan and the author's own experience, this paper attempts to explore the challenges that the Bhutanese health care system is facing in terms of promoting patient safety. Based upon the challenges identified, this paper offers a roadmap to move forward—ie, suggestions on how Bhutan could promote patient safety.
On the relationship between flood and contributing area
Authors: Spence Christopher , Mengistu Samson Girma
Published: April 2019

Although it is well known that the vast majority of the time only a portion of any watershed contributes run‐off to the outlet, this extent is rarely documented. Also, the power law form of the streamflow and contributing area (Q‐Ac) relationship has been known for a half century, but it is uncommon for it to be quantified, and time series of contributing area extensive enough to calculate its frequency distribution are almost non‐existent. Data from the Canadian Prairies, where there are extensive estimates of contributing area during the median annual flood, imply that the power law coefficient for any Q‐Ac curve is a function of flow magnitude and return period. These data also suggest that regional flood frequency curves are a construct of Q‐Ac curves from individual basins. This paper will discuss research that attempted to reproduce the Q‐Ac curves for the La Salle River Watershed with a semidistributed numerical hydrological model, MESH‐PDMROF. The model simulated streamflow reasonably well (Nash Sutcliffe values = 0.62) compared with published examples of comparable models applied in the region. Estimates of the coefficient and exponent of the Q‐Ac power law function ranged from 0.08–0.14 and 0.9–1.12, respectively. These exponent values were lower than those of regional flood frequency curves and support the theory that regional flood frequency curves are a construct of Q‐Ac curves. Simulations of the area contributing to the median annual flood were lower (0.3) than those derived from independent topographic analysis (0.9) described in earlier literature though there is uncertainty in both these estimates. This uncertainty was extended across the flood frequency distribution and may be too large to definitively verify the study hypothesis.
The effects of parathyroid hormone‐related peptide on cardiac angiogenesis, apoptosis, and function in mice with myocardial infarction
Authors: Zhang Hao , Gao Yang , Wang Yiming , Yan Yi , Yang Zhijian , Miao Dengshun , Zhang Dingguo
Published: April 2019

It is known that parathyroid hormone‐related peptide (PTHrP) contains a nuclear localization sequence (NLS, 87‐107), which, together with its C‐terminus (107‐139), has been shown to positively regulate vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMCs) proliferation and vascular neointima formation, and inhibit cellular apoptosis. The role of PTHrP in ischemic cardiac diseases remains unclear. In this study, we attempted to determine whether PTHrP 87 to 139 can play a role in promoting cardiac function via enhancing angiogenesis after myocardial infarction (MI) occurred. MI was reproduced in C57BL/6 mice using a coronary artery ligation method. In total, three groups (n = 11 per group) of animals were used, and they were received either PTHrP 87 to 139 (80 µg/kg, treatment group) or saline (MI and Sham group) subcutaneously once a day for 4 weeks after MI. To measure cardiac function, an echocardiography was generated and cardiac tissue was harvested for immunohistological studies 4 weeks after operation. Our results show that, after MI, the cardiac function of the experimental mice was significantly impaired. PTHrP 87 to 139 treatment attenuated cardiac dysfunction in MI mice. Besides, as indicated by decreased heart weight/body weight and lung weight/body weight ratio, PTHrP 87 to 139 attenuated pulmonary congestion and cardiac hypertrophy. Masson staining revealed that PTHrP 87 to 139 attenuated myocardial fibrosis after MI. Also, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling staining and the expression of cleaved caspase 3 suggested that MI‐induced myocytes apotosis was inhibited by PTHrP 87 to 139. In addition to the significantly increased capillary density, PTHrP 87 to 139 treatment also induced p‐Akt and several angiogenic factors. In conclusion, PTHrP 87 to 139 treatment preserved cardiac function after MI, and stimulated angiogenesis via upregulating vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in infarct border zone of ischemic myocardium,. These results suggest that PTHrP 87 to 139 is of therapeutic potential for MI.
Stopping the “revolving door”: “Zeida Laderech,” a unique rehabilitation house for young adults with severe and enduring eating disorders
Authors: Latzer Yael
Published: April 2019

A failure to maintain improvement achieved during acute treatment, followed by a “revolving door syndrome,” is a common phenomenon in eating disorders (EDs). As a result, many patients develop a chronic course that is difficult to treat. To target these difficulties, we established a novel rehabilitation treatment model in Israel for patients with severe and enduring EDs, based on the “recovery theory” in mental health treatment. This paper describes the process of conceiving this model and specifies the components of this rehabilitation house, “Zeida Laderech” (Provisions for the Journey), that aims to provide a home‐like environment, while assisting in developing a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Finally, the model is discussed in light of other residential programs established in the world. With the hope to improve the overall prognosis of individuals with EDs, it is suggested that the similar programs and ongoing innovation will continue to emerge internationally.
Overexpression of microRNA‐190 inhibits migration, invasion, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, and angiogenesis through suppression of protein kinase B‐extracellular signal‐regulated kinase signaling pathway via binding to stanniocalicin 2 in breast cancer
Authors: Sun Guiming , Liu Meirong , Han Hui
Published: April 2019

Breast cancer (BC) is known as the most deadly cancer among females, worldwide. Despite the research advances in this regard, effective diagnosis and treatment still have a long way to go. In this study, our stance was to investigate the regulatory mechanism of miR‐190 on epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis via mediation of protein kinase B (AKT)‐extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway by targeting stanniocalicin 2 (STC2) in BC. The BC gene chip was retrieved with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) obtained. MDA‐MB‐231 and T47D cell lines were selected and separately introduced with miR‐190 inhibitors, activators, and small interfering RNAs with the intent of exploring the regulatory functions that miR‐190 has shown while governing STC2 in BC. The regulatory effect of miR‐190 on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis was evaluated, followed by determination of AKT‐ERK signaling pathway‐related factors, EMT‐related factors, and angiogenesis‐related factors. The xenograft tumor of nude mice was also implemented for determining the change of tumor after transfection. The GSE26910 gene chip was obtained with STC2 being selected as the potential DEG. STC2 was the target gene of miR‐190. The results showed that cells introduced with the miR‐190 activators along with small interfering RNA‐STC2 inhibited proliferation, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, as well as EMT. Moreover, the in vivo experiment also went on to confirm that the tumor volume had significantly increased in the nude mice along with an elevated expression of miR‐190. Collectively, the findings suggested that overexpression of miR‐190 inhibited EMT and angiogenesis by inactivating AKT‐ERK signaling pathway via STC2 in BC.