bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Precarity as a common foundation for `Networks of Subsistence’
Authors: García Díaz Lara
Published: January 2020

El texto crea un análisis teórico que contrasta la literatura relevante sobre temas de precariedad, reproducción social y Commoning, o prácticas sociales de comunización. El propósito del texto es plantear así cómo métodos alternativos de organización creativo social que intentan dar respuesta a la precariedad actual deberían incorporar lo que las economistas feministas Maria Mies y Veronika Benholdt-Thomsen han denominado como `perspectiva de subsistencia’ (1999). Al centrar el estudio en el colectivo de arquitectos españoles Recetas Urbanas y, más concretamente, en su papel en la configuración de la red Arquitecturas Colectivas, el texto propone cómo una `perspectiva de subsistencia’ podría beneficiarse de lo que se ha referido aquí como una `red de subsistencia’. En conjunto, este texto representa una primera aproximación de futuros análisis teóricos sobre las posibilidades de estructuras organizacionales descentralizadas basadas en los Comunes a través de una perspectiva feminista marxista del trabajo reproductivo y las relaciones cotidianas.

The paper builds a theoretical analyses contrasting relevant literature around issues of precarity, social reproduction and practices of Commoning. By doing so, the paper raises how alternative methods of creative-social organization responding to precarity should incorporate what feminist economists’ Maria Mies and Veronika Benholdt-Thomsen has coined as `subsistence perspective’ (1999). By drawing on Spanish architect collective Recetas Urbanas (Urban Prescriptions) and, more concretely, their role in the network Arquitecturas Colectivas (Collective Architecture), the paper proposes how a `subsistence perspective’ could beneficiate from, what will be addressed as, a `network of subsistence’. Taken together this text represents a first approximation on future theoretical analyses around the possibilities of decentralized organizational structures based on the Commons through a Marxist Feminist perspective of reproductive work and everyday relations.
La Realidad Virtual en la Creación Artística: Conceptos, Tecnologías, Trayectoria y Actualidad
Authors: Simó Águeda
Published: January 2020

La aplicación de la Realidad Virtual (RV) en la creación artística se remonta a la década de 1990, cuando se comercializan losprimeros sistemas de RV. Sin embargo, los altos costos y lasdificultades técnicas para realizar y exhibir este tipo de obras limitaron la exploración artística de esta tecnología. En la segundadécada del s. XXI, la RV ha experimentado un renacimiento debido,en parte, a los avances tecnológicos en la computación gráfica y las interfaces físicas, bien como a su abaratamiento. Todos estos factores, están reimpulsado la utilización de la RV en las artes al facilitar la creación y exhibición de las obras.

Virtual Reality (VR) art can be traced back to the 1990s, whenthe first VR systems were commercialized. However, the art exploration of this technology was limited due to the high costs and technical difficulties to create and exhibit VR artworks. In the second decade of the 21st century, VR has experienced a renaissance partly because of the technological advances in computer graphics and physical interfaces and the reduction of their cost. All these factors have revitalized the use of VR in the arts by facilitating the creation and exhibition of artworks.
Manufacturing Growth and Agglomeration Effects
Authors: Fafchamps Marcel
Published: January 2020

This paper investigates the effect of location-specific competition and diversity on manufacturing growth. Using detailed manufacturing data from Morocco, we find strong and robust evidence of agglomeration effects: competition is good for growth but diversity is not. However, in our study country these effects do not appear to be channelled through productivity or wages. First, agglomeration variables have opposite effects on growth and on individual firm productivity. Second, controlling for productivity directly does not reduce the significance or magnitude of agglomeration variables. In the study country, agglomeration variables measure something that is relevant for manufacturing growth, but it is not productivity. We also find that a rise in average productivity raises subsequent employment and investment, but has no effect on firm entry and exit.
Explaining International Acts
Authors: Keitner Chimène I.
Published: January 2020

This contribution to the symposium on Evan Criddle & Evan Fox-Decent’s “Fiduciaries of Humanity” pushes against the strong claim by some critics that international legal norms are concerned solely with outcomes, rather than with processes of deliberation and justification more commonly associated with certain areas of domestic law. It explores this proposition by looking at examples including the 1999 Kosovo intervention, the April 2018 Syria strikes, and the results of the Chilcot Inquiry in the United Kingdom. Although deliberative processes that lead to international acts may not be judicially reviewable to the same extent as those that lead to purely domestic acts, the push for “transparency” among domestic constituencies, as well as other oversight mechanisms, create ex ante incentives for integrity in decision-making processes and rationales in the conduct of foreign affairs. In addition, ex post explanations of international acts may themselves carry legal significance as expressions of a state’s opinio juris. Scholars and practitioners should not discount the “culture of justification” that exists at the international level, even outside international courts and tribunals.
In Praise of Jus Cogens’ Conceptual Incoherence
Authors: Ohlin Jens David
Published: January 2020

The most compelling account of jus cogens is that it flows from natural law and constitutes the “ethically minimum” content of international law. Although natural law was once considered an acceptable and obvious approach to jurisprudence, its significance has waned at the expense of legal positivism. However, the hierarchical quality of jus cogens is best explained by some element of natural law—and its explicit invocation of moral content—rather than anything one might find in legal positivism. Of course, international lawyers have persistently refused to recognize the latent naturalism within jus cogens. While rueful from the point of view of legal theory, the obfuscation was nonetheless essential for jus cogens to succeed. In an alternate world where jus cogens was correctly viewed as a vestige of natural law, modern international lawyers would never have accepted it. One might lament the failure to recognize the natural law origins of jus cogens because it hampered the development of standards for identifying which legal norms counted as jus cogens. However, no account of jus cogens offers compelling, unambiguous criteria, and second, the lack of clarity on its criteria was a good price to pay in exchange for the legal category’s widespread adoption. In the end, the notion that jus cogens is consistent with international law’s legal positivism was a useful fiction, a “noble lie” that gave us modern human rights law.
Les répercussions du déraillement du train de Lac-Mégantic sur la santé psychosociale d’élèves du primaire
Authors: Maltais Danielle , Pouliot Ève , Lansard Anne-Lise , Fortin Geneviève , Petit Geneviève
Published: January 2020

En 2013, à Lac-Mégantic (Québec, Canada), un déraillement de train a entrainé d’importantes pertes humaines et matérielles. Cet article dresse le portrait psychosocial de jeunes âgés de 10 à 13 ans et documente les impacts de cette catastrophe sur divers aspects de leur vie. Cette étude a été réalisée auprès de 144 élèves du troisième cycle du primaire (5e et 6e années) par l’intermédiaire d’un questionnaire autoadministré en classe dans deux écoles situées à Lac-Mégantic et dans deux autres situées dans des municipalités à proximité. Cette étude a été réalisée à la suite d’une demande formulée par les organismes du milieu constatant le peu d’informations disponibles sur l’état de santé des jeunes de la communauté de Lac-Mégantic exposés au déraillement du train. Elle démontre que, 3 ans et demi après la tragédie, l’exposition à cette catastrophe technologique a des conséquences sur l’état de santé psychologique des enfants, notamment la présence de manifestations de stress post-traumatique et un faible niveau d’estime de soi. Des proportions plus élevées de jeunes exposés que de non exposés considèrent aussi que des problèmes de stress, d’anxiété ou de comportements ont perturbé leur vie familiale et scolaire. Cet article démontre l’importance d’apporter une attention particulière aux enfants pendant et après leur exposition à une catastrophe technologique afin de limiter les effets néfastes d’un tel évènement sur leur santé à court et à plus long terme. Il s’agit d’une contribution originale étant donné que la majorité des études portant sur les conséquences des catastrophes technologiques abordent le vécu des adultes demeurant aux États-Unis ou en Europe. De plus, les études permettant de documenter les conséquences des désastres sur la santé des jeunes ont surtout été réalisées à la suite de catastrophes naturelles dans d’autres pays que le Canada.
La résistible émergence d’une gouvernance participative à Delhi
Authors: Tawa Lama-Rewal Stéphanie
Published: January 2020

Ville majeure mais État faible, Delhi est, depuis 2000, un laboratoire de la démocratie participative, notamment parce que c’est là qu’a émergé en 2013 l’Aam Aadmi Party (AAP, Parti de l’homme ordinaire), un parti qui place la participation au coeur de son projet politique. Cet article analyse ce qui fait à la fois la nouveauté et la faiblesse de la gouvernance participative proposée par l’AAP depuis sa large victoire électorale de 2015, en situant cette gouvernance par rapport aux pratiques antérieures. En comparant la destinée de trois dispositifs successivement mis en oeuvre au cours des deux dernières décennies dans la capitale indienne – le programme Bhagidari, les mohalla sabhas (assemblées de quartier) et les SMC mahasabhas (assemblées scolaires) – il propose une « analyse contextualisée de la participation » (Mazeaud, Boas, et Berthomé, 2012) et contribue ainsi au dialogue nécessaire entre études des dispositifs participatifs et études de la gouvernance (Melo et Baiocchi, 2006). Plus spécifiquement, en interrogeant à la fois le sens et la réception des principes d’action publique regroupés sous le nom de gouvernance participative, cet article met en évidence le rôle de deux acteurs de la gouvernance urbaine – la bureaucratie et la société civile organisée – dans la longévité du programme Bhagidari et la brièveté des assemblées de quartier à Delhi.
Rediseño de Mosaic
Authors: Giménez Ferran , Guerrero David
Published: January 2020

Anna Ripoll, Tona Monjo, Cristina Fàbregas y Javier Aurea han participado en la renovación de Mosaic. Cada uno de ellos ofrece una explicación detallada del proceso seguido en el rediseño de Mosaic, empezando por la arquitectura de la información y acabando por el desarrollo web.
Origin and role of the cerebrospinal fluid bidirectional flow in the central canal
Authors: Thouvenin Olivier , Keiser Ludovic , Cantaut-Belarif Yasmine , Carbo-Tano Martin , Verweij Frederik , Jurisch-Yaksi Nathalie , Bardet Pierre-Luc , van Niel Guillaume , Gallaire Francois , Wyart Claire
Published: January 2020

Circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contributes to body axis formation and brain development. Here, we investigated the unexplained origins of the CSF flow bidirectionality in the central canal of the spinal cord of 30 hpf zebrafish embryos and its impact on development. Experiments combined with modeling and simulations demonstrate that the CSF flow is generated locally by caudally-polarized motile cilia along the ventral wall of the central canal. The closed geometry of the canal imposes the average flow rate to be null, explaining the reported bidirectionality. We also demonstrate that at this early stage, motile cilia ensure the proper formation of the central canal. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the bidirectional flow accelerates the transport of particles in the CSF via a coupled convective-diffusive transport process. Our study demonstrates that cilia activity combined with muscle contractions sustain the long-range transport of extracellular lipidic particles, enabling embryonic growth.
Cell-type-specific control of basolateral amygdala neuronal circuits via entorhinal cortex-driven feedforward inhibition
Authors: Guthman E Mae , Garcia Joshua D , Ma Ming , Chu Philip , Baca Serapio M , Smith Katharine R , Restrepo Diego , Huntsman Molly M
Published: January 2020

The basolateral amygdala (BLA) plays a vital role in associating sensory stimuli with salient valence information. Excitatory principal neurons (PNs) undergo plastic changes to encode this association; however, local BLA inhibitory interneurons (INs) gate PN plasticity via feedforward inhibition (FFI). Despite literature implicating parvalbumin expressing (PV+) INs in FFI in cortex and hippocampus, prior anatomical experiments in BLA implicate somatostatin expressing (Sst+) INs. The lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) projects to BLA where it drives FFI. In the present study, we explored the role of interneurons in this circuit. Using mice, we combined patch clamp electrophysiology, chemogenetics, unsupervised cluster analysis, and predictive modeling and found that a previously unreported subpopulation of fast-spiking Sst+ INs mediate LEC→BLA FFI.
Development of a confinable gene drive system in the human disease vector Aedes aegypti
Authors: Li Ming , Yang Ting , Kandul Nikolay P , Bui Michelle , Gamez Stephanie , Raban Robyn , Bennett Jared , Sánchez C Héctor M , Lanzaro Gregory C , Schmidt Hanno , Lee Yoosook , Marshall John M , Akbari Omar S
Published: January 2020

Aedes aegypti is the principal mosquito vector for many arboviruses that increasingly infect millions of people every year. With an escalating burden of infections and the relative failure of traditional control methods, the development of innovative control measures has become of paramount importance. The use of gene drives has sparked significant enthusiasm for genetic control of mosquitoes; however, no such system has been developed in Ae. aegypti. To fill this void, here we develop several CRISPR-based split gene drives for use in this vector. With cleavage rates up to 100% and transmission rates as high as 94%, mathematical models predict that these systems could spread anti-pathogen effector genes into wild populations in a safe, confinable and reversible manner appropriate for field trials and effective for controlling disease. These findings could expedite the development of effector-linked gene drives that could safely control wild populations of Ae. aegypti to combat local pathogen transmission.
Distinct cytoskeletal proteins define zones of enhanced cell wall synthesis in Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Taylor Jennifer A , Bratton Benjamin P , Sichel Sophie R , Blair Kris M , Jacobs Holly M , DeMeester Kristen E , Kuru Erkin , Gray Joe , Biboy Jacob , VanNieuwenhze Michael S , Vollmer Waldemar , Grimes Catherine L , Shaevitz Joshua W , Salama Nina R
Published: January 2020

Helical cell shape is necessary for efficient stomach colonization by Helicobacter pylori, but the molecular mechanisms for generating helical shape remain unclear. The helical centerline pitch and radius of wild-type H. pylori cells dictate surface curvatures of considerably higher positive and negative Gaussian curvatures than those present in straight- or curved-rod H. pylori. Quantitative 3D microscopy analysis of short pulses with either N-acetylmuramic acid or D-alanine metabolic probes showed that cell wall growth is enhanced at both sidewall curvature extremes. Immunofluorescence revealed MreB is most abundant at negative Gaussian curvature, while the bactofilin CcmA is most abundant at positive Gaussian curvature. Strains expressing CcmA variants with altered polymerization properties lose helical shape and associated positive Gaussian curvatures. We thus propose a model where CcmA and MreB promote PG synthesis at positive and negative Gaussian curvatures, respectively, and that this patterning is one mechanism necessary for maintaining helical shape.
Spraying 6-BA could alleviate the harmful impacts of waterlogging on dry matter accumulation and grain yield of wheat
Authors: Wang Xiaoyan , Liu Daoming , Wei Mingmei , Man Jianguo
Published: January 2020

Background

The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River plain produce the second highest amount of wheat in China; however, waterlogging is an important environmental factor that substantially affects the yield production of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in this region.

Methods

In this study, seven treatments were implemented, including no waterlogging and exogenous 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) as a control (CK); waterlogging at booting (BW), anthesis (AW) and 15 days after anthesis (DAA, FW); and spraying 6-BA before waterlogging at booting (BW-6BA), anthesis (AW-6BA) and 15 DAA (FW-6BA), to determine the ability of 6-BA to alleviate the harmful impact of waterlogging on aboveground biomass production and grain yield. The widely cultivated wheat cultivar “Zhengmai 9023” was used.

Results

The results showed that more than 190.0 mm of rainfall, which accounted for approximately 45.0% of the precipitation over the whole wheat growing season, was distributed after the booting stage (April and May). In all waterlogged treatments, the photosynthetic rate, aboveground biomass and grain yield decreased, but the differences between the CK and the FW treatment were not significant. The grain yield decreased by 18.38%, 41.79% and 5.67% in the BW, AW and FW treatments, respectively. Spraying 6-BA before waterlogging enhanced the root activities after anthesis and then decreased the malondialdehyde concentrations of the flag leaves and the third leaf, increased the photosynthetic rate of the flag leaves and enhanced aboveground biomass and grain yield. Among the increments between the treatments, the increments between the BW and BW-6BA treatments were the largest, but between the FW and FW-6BA were smallest. In comparison to the other waterlogging treatments, the grain yields from the FW and FW-6BA treatments were significantly higher because of the higher kernel numbers per spike. The results indicated that waterlogging after the booting stage restrained the dry matter production of winter wheat, but spraying 6-BA before waterlogging slowed the plant senescence rate and reduced grain yield loss.
A multiomics comparison between endometrial cancer and serous ovarian cancer
Authors: Zhong Hui , Chen Huiyu , Qiu Huahong , Huang Chen , Wu Zhihui
Published: January 2020

Background

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) and serous ovarian carcinoma (OvCa) are both among the common cancer types in women. EC can be divided into two subtypes, endometroid EC and serous-like EC, with distinct histological characterizations and molecular phenotypes. There is an increasing awareness that serous-like EC resembles serous OvCa in genetic landscape, but a clear relationship between them is still lacking.

Methods

Here, we took advantage of the large-scale molecular profiling of The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) to compare the two EC subtypes and serous OvCa. We used bioinformatics data analytic methods to systematically examine the somatic mutation (SM) and copy number alteration (SCNA), gene expression, pathway activities, survival gene signatures and immune infiltration. Based on these quantifiable molecular characterizations, we asked whether serous-like EC should be grouped more closely to serous OvCa, based on the context of being serous-like; or if should be grouped more closely to endometroid EC, based on the same organ origin.

Results

We found that although serous-like EC and serous OvCa share some common genotypes, including mutation and copy number alteration, they differ in molecular phenotypes such as gene expression and signaling pathway activity. Moreover, no shared prognostic gene signature was found, indicating that they use unique genes governing tumor progression. Finally, although the endometrioid EC and serous OvCa are both highly immune infiltrated, the immune cell composition in serous OvCa is mostly immune suppressive, whereas endometrioid EC has a higher level of cytotoxic immune cells. Overall, our genetic aberration and molecular phenotype characterizations indicated that serous-like EC and serous OvCa cannot be simply treated as a simple “serous” cancer type. In particular, additional attention should be paid to their unique gene activities and tumor microenvironments for novel targeted therapy development.
ОЦЕНКА ТРАНСФОРМАЦИИ РАСПРОСТРАНЯЮЩЕЙСЯ НА ВОСТОК СОЛЕНОЙ ВОДЫ НА СЛУПСКОМ ПОРОГЕ БАЛТИЙСКОГО МОРЯ ПО ДАННЫМ МИКРОСТРУКТУРНЫХ ИЗМЕРЕНИЙ, "Фундаментальная и прикладная гидрофизика"
Authors: Журбас В.М. , Пака В.Т. , Голенко М.Н. , Корж А.О.
Published: January 2020

Измерения, выполненные в окрестности Слупского порога с помощью привязного свободно-падающего микроструктурного зонда, выявили наличие пятна с высоким уровнем скорости диссипации турбулентности непосредственно за порогом с восточной стороны в придонном слое, заполненном распространяющейся на восток соленой водой. Предложен метод, позволяющий количественно оценить роль топографического препятствия наподобие Слупского порога в перемешивании/трансформации затоковой воды по данным микроструктурных измерений. Для этого сначала по вертикальным профилям удельной скорости диссипации кинетической энергии турбулентности и потенциальной плотности рассчитывается скорость вовлечения воды пониженной солености из вышележащего слоя в придонный турбулентный слой соленой воды. Затем, полагая, что в придонном течении соленой воды критическое значение числа Фруда достигается непосредственно над порогом, оценивается расход течения. Наконец, из баланса между адвекцией и турбулентным вовлечением можно получить оценку изменения солености распространяющейся на восток соленой воды из-за интенсификации перемешивания в области порога. Получено, что локальное усиление турбулентного перемешивания в районе Слупского порога ответственно примерно за 5 % уменьшения солености затоковых вод на пути от Арконского бассейна до Готландской впадины.
ОЦЕНКА ТЕРАПЕВТИЧЕСКОГО СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВА РОДИТЕЛЕЙ ПАЦИЕНТОВ ДЕТСКОГО ВОЗРАСТА В ПРОЦЕССЕ ПРОТИВОТУБЕРКУЛЕЗНОЙ ХИМИОТЕРАПИИ В УСЛОВИЯХ СТАЦИОНАРА, "Вестник Центрального научно-исследовательского института туберкулеза"
Authors: Золотова Наталья Владимировна , Петракова Ирина Юрьевна , Хохлова Юлия Юрьевна , Стерликова Светлана Сергеевна
Published: January 2020

Целью исследования являлось изучение особенностей терапевтического сотрудничества родителей и лиц, выполняющих родительские функции, в процессе стационарного лечения туберкулеза органов дыхания (ТОД) у детей. Материалы и методы исследования. В исследовании участвовали 114 родителей пациентов от 3 до 12 лет. Пациенты были госпитализированы в детское отделение ФГБНУ «ЦНИИТ» по поводу ТОД и находились в условиях стационара от 2 до 18 месяцев. Для оценки особенностей терапевтического сотрудничества родителей пациента или его представителя была разработана анкета, в которой были выделены основные параметры, отражающие отношение родителей к ситуации лечения ребенка, а также особенности взаимодействия с лечебным персоналом. По каждому параметру лечащим врачом проводилась ранжированная количественная оценка на начальных этапах химиотерапии и через 2-4 месяца лечения в условиях стационара. На основании комплексного анализа данных анкетирования были дифференцированы группы родителей, отличавшихся низким, удовлетворительным и высоким уровнем терапевтического сотрудничества. Результаты. В результате проведенного исследования установлено, что родители с высоким и удовлетворительным уровнем терапевтического сотрудничества достоверно преобладали (соответственно по 40,4% случаев) по сравнению с родителями, отличавшимися низким уровнем комплаенса (19,2% случаев) (р < 0,05). Установлено, что при наличии высокого комплаенса параметры терапевтического сотрудничества в большинстве (81,4%) случаев остаются стабильными в процессе стационарного лечения. Выявлено, что уровень терапевтического сотрудничества в наибольшей степени опосредован отношением родителя к лечению ребенка в условиях стационара. Представлены особенности терапевтического сотрудничества у родителей с различным типом отношения к стационарному лечению. Заключение. Уровень сотрудничества с медицинским персоналом определяется социальным статусом семьи, а также обстоятельствами, связанными с лечением ребенка (направление на лечение из других регионов страны или ближнего зарубежья).
ВЫЯВЛЕНИЕ МИКОБАКТЕРИЙ МЕТОДОМ ЛЮМИНЕСЦЕНТНОЙ МИКРОСКОПИИ ЧАСТЬ 1. ПРИГОТОВЛЕНИЕ И ОКРАШИВАНИЕ ПРЕПАРАТОВ, "Вестник Центрального научно-исследовательского института туберкулеза"
Authors: Севастьянова Элина Викторовна , Ларионова Елена Евгеньевна , Андриевская Ирина Юрьевна
Published: January 2020

Изложен метод выявления микобактерий (МБ) с помощью микроскопического исследования препаратов, окрашенных люминесцентным методом. Описаны варианты приготовления препаратов для микроскопии из осадка диагностического материала, подготовленного для культурального исследования, и из осадка необработанного жидкого материала. Представлены 2 методики окрашивания препаратов люминесцентными красителями. Проведен обзор возможных ошибок при приготовлении и окраске мазков для люминесцентной микроскопии.
Effect of Fertilization and Bacterial Inoculation on Nutrient Status in Coal Mine Soil under Alder (Alnus sibirica) Plantation
Authors: Sharif Md. Omar , Shin Chang-Seob
Published: January 2020

This study was conducted to assess the effect of fertilization and nitrogen fixing (N-fixing) bacterial inoculation on the available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg), present in the coal mine soil, by growing N-fixing plant species, alder (Alnus sibirica). The study was conducted in a greenhouse of the Forest Science Department, Chungbuk National University, South Korea, during the period of May 2019 to July 2019. A completely randomized design (CRD) comprising of four treatments, including T0—non-fertilized non-inoculation (control), T1—fertilization, T2—bacterial inoculation and T3—fertilization along with bacterial inoculation with three replications were used in the study. The results of the study showed that available N (NH4+-N and NO3−-N) in the coal soil were increased by the applied treatments for alder, as compared to control. Apart from control, difference was also found for increasing ammonium (NH4+-N) between treatments T1 and T3 and for increasing nitrate (NO3−-N) between treatments T1 and T2 and treatments T2 and T3. Available P and K in the soil also increased when NPK fertilizer was applied solely, and together with inoculation to the plants but reduced at other treatments. Therefore, it can be concluded that fertilization and biological N fixation in alder plant can improve the fertility of coal mine soil, and hence, this plant species could be a good option for the reclamation of degraded coal mine soil.
Impact of Metal Ion Substitution on the Activity and Stability of Saccharifying Raw Starch Digesting Amylase from Aspergillus carbonarius
Authors: Nwamaka Nwagu Tochukwu , Aoyagi Hideki , Okolo Bartholomew
Published: January 2020

Though raw starch digesting amylases can be utilized in numerous bioprocesses, poor activity and stability remain a limiting factor.  In this study, the effect of metal ion substitution on the activity and stability of the RSDA from Aspergillus carbonarius was investigated. The amylase was inactivated using the chelating agent ethylene di aminotetraacetic acid (EDTA) and reactivated using different metal ions. The effect of different metal ions on the reactivation of the amylase activity was investigated. Impact of the metal ions on the stability of the amylase was also studied. Kinetic constants of the native enzyme were compared to the metal reactivated holoenzyme. Most efficient was 5 mM concentration of Co2+ with 94.6% activity recovery. Others included 5 mM Zn2+ (77.7%) and 5 mM Ca2+ (68.7%). Incubating the Co2+ activated amylase in 10 mM Mn2+ further stimulated the activity of the amylase to 136.7%. Compared to the metal ions tested, Mn2+ had the most stabilizing effect on the amylase; the amylase exhibited 148.2% and 136.5% activity at 70ºC and 80ºC respectively in the presence of 5 mM Mn2+. Ca2+ inhibited the amylase activity and inhibition rate increased with increasing concentration of Ca2+ concentrations. Km of the reactivated amylase was 0.18 mg/ml.
Agronomic Performance, Response and Efficient Use of Potassium in Genotypes Corn (Zea mays)
Authors: Dos Santos Weder Ferreira , De Assunção Fernando Assis , Ferreira Sodré Layanni , Carneiro Maciel Lucas , Oliveira Magno De , Bandeira Barros Hélio , Ribeiro da Silva Rubens , Mucci Peluzio Joênes , Silveira Barbosa Adriano , Souza Ferreira Talita Pereira de
Published: January 2020

The study aims to select maize for the response and efficiency of the use of potassium (K), in the municipality of Gurupi, state of Tocantins. Two trials of maize genotypes were carried out in Gurupi-TO, in the off-season 2017, one for high K condition and another for K low, applied in coverage. The experimental design of each experiment was a randomized block design with three replicates and seven treatments. The average grain production BK (6997 kg ha−1) was                     lower than the AK (7787 kg ha−1), which confirms that the application of potassium fertilizers in maize makes this answer the applications collaborating with better yields. The genotype               (G3) showed that high yield in BK environment (above the average, 4532 kg ha−1) and low response rate application of paragraph, they are defined as efficient, unresponsive. The genotype G2 was classified as efficient and responsive being indicated for producers of both technological levels.
Thrombocytopenia associated with clonidine in a case of clozapine-induced sialorrhea
Authors: Leung Jonathan G. , Kutzke Jade L. , Morgan Robert J. , Schak Kathryn M.
Published: January 2020

Clozapine is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment-resistant schizophrenia and mitigation of suicidality in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Clozapine requires monitoring of adverse events, such as hypotension, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, seizures, severe neutropenia, and gastrointestinal hypomotility. Sialorrhea is another adverse event that can be bothersome for patients and result in nonadherence or the development of aspiration pneumonia. Clonidine, an α2A adrenergic receptor agonist, is one medication option that can reduce or eliminate sialorrhea. Clonidine is generally well tolerated but can contribute to hypotension and sedation. One adverse event associated with clonidine not described in the literature is thrombocytopenia. Reported is a case of clonidine-associated thrombocytopenia when used for the treatment of clozapine-induced sialorrhea.
Dihydropyrans by Cycloadditions of Oxadienes
Authors: Martel Arnaud , Dhal Robert , Gaulon Catherine , Laurent Mathieu Yves , Dujardin Gilles
Published: January 2020

3,4‐Dihydro‐2H‐pyrans are present in the skeletons of several natural products, and these versatile synthetic intermediates are readily transformed into tetrahydropyrans, pyridines, or 1,5‐dicarbonyl units. Among the strategies developed to access 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrans, the hetero‐Diels‐Alder reaction between an oxadiene and a dienophile is particularly valuable because up to three contiguous stereogenic centers can be created diastereo‐ and/or enantioselectively in a single step. This review addresses the mechanism of the reaction and presents methods for preparing the product dihydropyrans enantio‐ and diastereoselectively. Thermal and Lewis acid promoted cycloadditions are discussed, as is the role of activating groups on the oxadiene.
Evaluation and verification of a simplified lead equivalency measurement method
Authors: Wargo Richard Ryan , Aljabal Areej Fawzi , Lin Pei‐Jan Paul
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This technical note presents an inexpensive tool and method for determining lead equivalency using digital radiography x‐ray equipment.

Methods

A test tool was developed using commercially available lead tape (3M™ Lead Foil Tape 421). The test tool consisted of nine varying lead thick squares arranged in a larger square (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, and 1.0 mm). It was imaged on a DR plate with a digital portable x‐ray unit across a range of energies (60–120 kVp) and two beam filtrations. Lead equivalency was determined by using the linear relationship between dose to the detector and pixel values in the raw images. The lead equivalency of the tape was validated using known lead thicknesses (physically measured with caliper). Additional lead equivalency measurements were made for protective eyewear, a thyroid shield, and a lead apron.

Results

The test tool and method measured the two known lead thicknesses to be –9.7% to 7.1% different from the actual values across the range of energies under normal x‐ray beam conditions and under a 1‐mm copper filtered x‐ray beam. The additional lead equivalency measurements of radiation protection apparel across energies ranged from –6% to 20% for both beam conditions when compared with the values provided by the manufacturer.

Conclusion

This work validates the test tool and methodology as an inexpensive alternative to checking the lead equivalency of radiation protection apparel in a clinical setting. The methodology is equipment independent with a few prerequisites.
Hydrogels with Preprogrammable Lifetime via UV‐Induced Polymerization and Degradation
Authors: Scheiger Johannes M. , Levkin Pavel A.
Published: January 2020

Hydrogels are 3D networks infused with water. When formed via radical polymerization, inherently stable hydrogels are created due to stable covalent carbon–carbon bonds. As such, they remain static soft scaffolds, unlike the dynamic tissue they are often compared to. Herein, a hydrogel capable of autonomously converting from a liquid hydrogel precursor solution into a solid hydrogel for a defined period of time, followed by a further transformation back into a liquid polymer solution, is designed. These antagonistic processes are initiated by the same UV light, which is used as stimulus for both a photopolymerization and a photodegradation simultaneously. It is demonstrated how the lifetime of the hydrogel state can be controlled and visualized on the minute scale. Both the photopolymerization and the photodegradation reactions are studied with various methods such as NMR, IR, and confocal microscopy. The different stages of the transformation, e.g., the hydrogel precursor (liquid), hydrogel (solid), and degraded hydrogel (liquid) are investigated with rheometry, viscosimetry, dynamic light scattering, and gel permeation chromatography. Small changes in the molecular composition of the precursor solution result in macroscopically measurable differences. Such time‐dependent twofold photoreactive systems can be of interest for designing dynamic materials, such as glues and photoresists or for biomedical applications.
Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based Smart Electronics via Machine Learning
Authors: Ji Xianglin , Zhao Tingkai , Zhao Xin , Lu Xufei , Li Tiehu
Published: January 2020

With the development of artificial intelligence, it is urgent to empower traditional electronics with the ability to “think,” to “analyze,” and to “advise.” Here, a new product concept namely triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based smart electronics via the automatic machine learning data analysis algorithm is proposed. In this work, a simple water processing technique is used to fabricate porous polydimethylsiloxane, together with the weaving copper mesh, forming a high sensitivity flexible TENG. The as‐prepared TENG presents high sensitivity for the voice signal and handwriting signal detection with ≈0.2 V amplitude in the common talking and writing condition. Three words' pronunciation are recorded and the ensemble method is used as the machine learning model for the voice signal recognition with a recognition accuracy of 93.3%. To further demonstrate the possibility of applying machine learning algorithm for automatic analysis and recognition, larger database is analyzed. Twenty‐six letters' handwriting signals with total 520 samples are collected and a letter fingerprint library is established for further analysis. Hierarchical clustering and similarity matrix are used to study the intrinsic relationship between letters. “Medium Gaussian support vector machine” is used as machine learning model for the 26‐letter fingerprint identification with recognition accuracy of 93.5%.
Study on the Energy Band Regulation of Bi2−xSbxTe3 and Its Application as Mode Locking Material in Low Gain Ultrafast Fiber Laser
Authors: Song Chunyu , Zhang He , Jin Liang , Ma Xiaohui , Zou Yonggang , Shi Linlin , Xu Yingtian
Published: January 2020

Topological insulators (TIs) are widely used as saturable absorbers in ultrafast pulsed fiber lasers, but the low modulation depth and high threshold power of self‐starting mode‐locking limit their application, especially in the field of communication. Five Bi2Te3‐based materials are prepared by designing different doping ratios. The modulation depth is tunable from 4.41% to 51.31%. It is noteworthy that the minimum pump power of self‐starting mode‐locking is only 27.66 mW. In the circumstance of low gain, Kelly sideband is still weak even if the pump power reaches 165 mW. This is significant for the application in the field of laser communication. Density functional theory calculations show that the doping effect leads to the rearrangement of electrons near the Fermi level, which further leads to an increase in the density of states. The average contribution trend of Te pz of the five materials in each energy band near the Fermi level is consistent with the trend of modulation depth. This study suggests that the nonlinearity of Bi2Te3‐based materials can be improved by doping Sb, and stable self‐starting mode‐locking can be achieved at low gain and low pump power, providing a new idea for improving the nonlinearity of materials.
Highly Efficient Flexible Organic Light Emitting Transistor Based on High‐k Polymer Gate Dielectric
Authors: Chen Hongming , Xing Xing , Miao Jingsheng , Zhao Changbin , Zhu Miao , Bai JunWu , He Yaowu , Meng Hong
Published: January 2020

In this work, the multilayer organic light emitting transistors (OLETs) based on high‐k polymer crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (C‐PVA) as the dielectric layer are studied. The devices show an excellent brightness of 14 500 cd m−2 and a record breaking external quantum efficiency (EQE) of about 9.0% in inert atmosphere. The use of perfluoro(1‐butenyl vinyl ether) polymer (CYTOP) modified C‐PVA as a hydrophobic dielectric affords OLETs with good stability, displaying a maximum brightness of 13 400 cd m−2 and EQE of 7.31% in ambient conditions with high humidity (relative humidity RH = 70%). Furthermore, the flexible OLETs based on CYTOP/C‐PVA dielectric layer show a brightness of 8300 cd m−2 and a peak EQE at 9.01%, which is the first reported flexible OLET with >500 cd m−2 brightness. The excellent OLET device performance is ascribed to the excellent hole transport structure, high efficiency of guest–host system, and the better carrier balance in the emitting layer, which could be a practical strategy to develop high‐performance flexible OLETs. It is proven for the first time that OLETs could achieve such high EQE and brightness, even for flexible OLETs, paving the way for their future application in industry.
Electrochemical Chalcogenation of β,γ‐Unsaturated Amides and Oximes to Corresponding Oxazolines and Isoxazolines
Authors: Mallick Samrat , Baidya Mrinmay , Mahanty Kingshuk , Maiti Debabrata , De Sarkar Suman
Published: January 2020

The current report represents a transition‐metal‐free synthesis of oxazoline and isoxazoline derivatives by a tandem electro‐oxidative chalcogenation‐cyclization process. Both C−Se and C−S bond‐forming protocols were developed without using any external oxidant and the reaction was performed at room temperature, open to the air. Using this methodology, 29 substituted oxazoline and 16 substituted isoxazoline derivatives were synthesized with up to 91% isolated yield.

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Zinc Acetate Catalyzed Enantioselective Reductive Aldol Reaction of Ketones
Authors: Węglarz Izabela , Szewczyk Marcin , Mlynarski Jacek
Published: January 2020

A highly enantioselective method for the synthesis of β‐hydroxy esters via reductive aldol reaction of acrylates with aryl and heteroaromatic ketones is described. In situ generated catalyst composed of zinc acetate and chiral diamine afforded enantioenriched tertiary alcohols in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 91% ee). This is also the first successful application of the zinc hydride reagent in stereoselective reductive aldol reactions of ketones.

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A Highly Cost‐Efficient Large‐Scale Uniform Laminar Plasma Jet Array Enhanced by V–I Characteristic Modulation in a Non‐Self‐Sustained Atmospheric Discharge
Authors: Li Jing , Wang Jing , Lei Bingying , Zhang Tongyi , Tang Jie , Wang Yishan , Zhao Wei , Duan Yixiang
Published: January 2020

Developing cost‐efficient large‐scale uniform plasma jets represents a significant challenge for high performance in material processing and plasma medicine. Here, a V–I characteristic modulation approach is proposed to reduce the discharge power and increase the plasma scale and chemical activity in non‐self‐sustained atmospheric direct‐current discharges. The electric field in discharge space is optimized to fundamentally empower simultaneously initiating all discharge cells far below Townsend breakdown potential and stably sustaining each plasma jet at low voltage. These strategies create a crucial step to fabricating a flexible and compact low‐power large‐scale uniform laminar plasma jet array (LPJA) with high activity in cheap argon. The mechanisms behind the discharge enhancement are revealed by combining V–I characteristic examination and a modulation model. Compared with conventional arrays, this LPJA possesses the widest size (90 mm) and raises its uniformity from 30% to 97%. Comparing different discharge modes shows that the LPJA scale is surprisingly increased nearly by 4 times with the discharge power reduced from 7.4 to 4.8 W. The methodology provides a highly cost‐efficient roadmap to break through the bottleneck of restricting low‐power discharge, large‐gap discharge, large‐scale discharge, parallel‐multi‐electrode discharge, and uniform discharge together. This advance will meet the urgent need for various plasma applications.
Mg Doped Li–LiB Alloy with In Situ Formed Lithiophilic LiB Skeleton for Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Wu Chen , Huang Haifeng , Lu Weiyi , Wei Zengxi , Ni Xuyan , Sun Fu , Qing Piao , Liu Zhijian , Ma Jianmin , Wei Weifeng , Chen Libao , Yan Chenglin , Mai Liqiang
Published: January 2020

High energy density lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are promising next‐generation energy storage devices. However, the uncontrollable dendrite growth and huge volume change limit their practical applications. Here, a new Mg doped Li–LiB alloy with in situ formed lithiophilic 3D LiB skeleton (hereinafter called Li–B–Mg composite) is presented to suppress Li dendrite and mitigate volume change. The LiB skeleton exhibits superior lithiophilic and conductive characteristics, which contributes to the reduction of the local current density and homogenization of incoming Li+ flux. With the introduction of Mg, the composite achieves an ultralong lithium deposition/dissolution lifespan (500 h, at 0.5 mA cm−2) without short circuit in the symmetrical battery. In addition, the electrochemical performance is superior in full batteries assembled with LiCoO2 cathode and the manufactured composite. The currently proposed 3D Li–B–Mg composite anode may significantly propel the advancement of LMB technology from laboratory research to industrial commercialization.
Corn nitrogen rate recommendation tools’ performance across eight US midwest corn belt states
Authors: Ransom Curtis J. , Kitchen Newell R. , Camberato James J. , Carter Paul R. , Ferguson Richard B. , Fernández Fabián G. , Franzen David W. , Laboski Carrie A. M. , Nafziger Emerson D. , Sawyer John E. , Scharf Peter C. , Shanahan John F.
Published: January 2020

Determining which corn (Zea mays L.) N fertilizer rate recommendation tools best predict crop N need would be valuable for maximizing profits and minimizing environmental consequences. Simultaneous comparisons of multiple tools across various environmental conditions have been limited. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the performance of publicly‐available N fertilizer recommendation tools across diverse soil and weather conditions for: (i) prescribing N rates for planting and split‐fertilizer applications, and (ii) economic and environmental effects. Corn N‐response trials using standardized methods were conducted at 49 sites, spanning eight US Midwest states and three growing seasons. Nitrogen applications included eight rates in 45 kg N ha−1 increments all at‐planting and matching rates with 45 kg N ha−1 at‐planting plus at the V9 development stage. Tool performances were compared to the economically optimal N rate (EONR). Over this large geographic region, only 10 of 31 recommendation tools (mainly soil nitrate tests) produced N rate recommendations that weakly correlated to EONR (P ≤ .10; r2 ≤ .20). With other metrics of performance, the Maximum Return to N (MRTN) soil nitrate tests, and canopy reflectance sensing came close to matching EONR. Economically, all tools but the Maize‐N crop growth model had similar returns compared to EONR. Environmentally, yield goal based tools resulted in the highest environmental costs. Results show that no tool was universally reliable over this study's diverse growing environments, suggesting that additional tool development is needed to better represent N inputs and crop utilization at a larger regional level.
Smart Sensing Systems Using Wearable Optoelectronics
Authors: Ku Minjae , Hwang Jae Chul , Oh Byungkook , Park Jang-Ung
Published: January 2020

A wearable smart sensing system is capable of continuously monitoring biometric information such as respiration, pulse, and body temperature while attached to an arbitrary surface on the user's body to be utilized freely during activities. Research conducted on new materials, fabrication processes, structure of electrodes, and wireless communication technologies has made constant progress in the development of smart sensing systems that use entirely wearable forms of devices to go beyond conventional devices that are based on intrinsically rigid components, such as silicon. Among various platforms that can be used in the development of smart sensing systems, optoelectronics provides innovative sensing functions (e.g., human–machine interfaces and phototherapy) that can be transferred from traditional healthcare to smart healthcare, such as point of care. Optoelectronics are light‐mediated displays that allow a light source to be controlled and a large light spectrum to be detected. Recently, this platform that uses smart and wearable optoelectronic sensing systems has become increasingly advanced to better help human beings treat their diseases through self‐healthcare. Herein, recent advanced technologies in materials, structures, and wireless platforms for smart sensors using wearable optoelectronics are reviewed.