bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of the mole fraction modulation on the RF/DC performance of GaAs1−xSbx FinFET
Authors: Dixit Ankit , Samajdar Dip Prakash , Bagga Navjeet
Published: September 2021

The impact of mole fraction variation on the RF/DC performance of GaAs1−xSbx‐based FinFET has been examined in this study. Changing the Sb mole fraction has substantial effect on the electronic band parameters of GaAs, which directly affects the device performance. Electrical properties of the device including electron density and mobility fluctuation are investigated as a function of Sb mole fraction. Additionally, device DC performance parameters such as the ION/IOFF ratio, threshold voltage, transconductance, and device node capacitance, such as Cgg and Cds, are studied using a technology computer‐aided design (TCAD) simulator. The mole fraction dependence of the gate capacitance dictates the application of the proposed FinFET in the RF and high‐frequency domains. A detailed investigation of the figures of merits such as intrinsic gain, intrinsic delay, dynamic power dissipation, power delay product, energy dissipation, and unity gain bandwidth reveals that GaAsSb can be a potential material for realization of low‐power analog and digital circuits. The proper tuning of the mole fraction can help to optimize the device performance.
Osteopontin regulates proliferation, migration, and survival of astrocytes depending on their activation phenotype
Authors: Vay Sabine Ulrike , Olschewski Daniel Navin , Petereit Helena , Lange Felix , Nazarzadeh Nilufar , Gross Elena , Rabenstein Monika , Blaschke Stefan Johannes , Fink Gereon Rudolf , Schroeter Michael , Rueger Maria Adele
Published: September 2021

The glycoprotein osteopontin is highly upregulated in central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as ischemic stroke. Osteopontin regulates cell growth, cell adhesion, homeostasis, migration, and survival of various cell types. Accordingly, osteopontin is considered an essential regulator of regeneration and repair in the ischemic milieu. Astrocytes are the most abundant cells in the CNS and play significant roles in health and disease. Astrocytes are involved in homeostasis, promote neuroprotection, and regulate synaptic plasticity. Upon activation, astrocytes may adopt different phenotypes, termed A1 and A2. The direct effects of osteopontin on astrocytes, especially in distinct activation states, are yet unknown. The current study aimed to elucidate the impact of osteopontin on resting and active astrocytes. We established an inflammatory in vitro model of activated (A1) primary astrocytes derived from neonatal wistar rats by exposure to a distinct combination of proinflammatory cytokines. To model ischemic stroke in vitro, astrocytes were subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in the presence or absence of osteopontin. Osteopontin modulated the activation phenotype by attenuating A1‐ and restoring A2‐marker expression without compromising the active astrocytes’ immunocompetence. Osteopontin promoted the proliferation of active and the migration of resting astrocytes. Following transient OGD, osteopontin mitigated the delayed ongoing death of primary astrocytes, promoting their survival. Data suggest that osteopontin differentially regulates essential functions of resting and active astrocytes and confirm a significant regulatory role of osteopontin in an in vitro ischemia model. Furthermore, the data suggest that osteopontin constitutes a promising target for experimental therapies modulating neuroregeneration and repair.
Subinhibitory concentration stress of colistin enhanced PhoPQ expression in Escherichia coli harboring mcr‐1
Authors: Elizabeth Rajkumari , Wangkheimayum Jayalaxmi , Singha K. Melson , Chanda Debadatta D. , Bhattacharjee Amitabha
Published: September 2021

The increased and inappropriate use of colistin led to the emergence of its resistance among Gram‐negative bacterial isolates and the most common mechanism of colistin resistance in Gram‐negative bacteria is the modification of the lipopolysaccharide mediated by two‐component regulatory systems, PhoPQ and PmrAB. The aim of the present study was to investigate the transcriptional expression of the PhoPQ system against colistin stress in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli with colistin‐resistant phenotype. Six colistin‐resistant E. coli isolates were obtained from Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Silchar that were of clinical origin and received for routine culture and sensitivity testing. Screening for colistin resistance was done by broth microdilution method and further screened for the presence of the different types of plasmid‐mediated colistin resistance mcr genes namely, mcr‐1 to mcr‐10 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The screened positive isolates were subjected to PCR assay targeting phoP and phoQ genes and their expression was measured by quantitative real‐time PCR. The results of this study revealed that two E. coli isolates (TS2 and TS4) were found to carry the mcr‐1 gene. PhoP and PhoQ gene amplification was observed in all the isolates. Transcriptional analysis showed that the isolates harboring the mcr‐1 gene showed an enhanced level of expression in the PhoP, PhoQ genes in the presence of a subinhibitory concentration of colistin whereas no significant expression was observed for the isolates which were devoid of the mcr gene. This study demonstrates the involvement of mcr‐1 in the PhoPQ system in clinical isolates of colistin‐resistant E. coli which will help in designing a molecular marker for detecting colistin‐resistant E. coli and contribute to the assessment of resistance burden and infection control strategy.
Quantifying the precipitation–temperature relationship in China during 1961–2018
Authors: Liu Zihan , Wu Guocan
Published: September 2021

As a direct manifestation of global warming, the air temperature has been reported to rise significantly during the last several decades. Meanwhile, precipitation around the world has also changed profoundly. Therefore, it is important to unravel the long‐term changes in temperature and precipitation as well as their relationship. This study investigates the characteristics of temperature and precipitation in China from 1961 to 2018. Based on theoretical simulations, the effect of cloud droplet growth and precipitation formation on cloud temperature change has been determined. It has been found that for a specific cloud, the change in surface tension with temperature can increase the supersaturation rate in the cloud, which promotes precipitation by about 10%·K−1. A real dataset was then used to analyse the state change in temperature and precipitation under climate change. Precipitation showed an increasing trend by 13.9%·K−1 throughout China with increasing temperature, which reflects the combined effect of the decrease in rainfall frequency and the increase in rainfall intensity. This indicates that the theoretical simulations could provide a reference model to analyse the actual precipitation–temperature relationship (PTR). In addition, the PTR showed large regional variations: 5.1%·K−1 in North China, 5.6%·K−1 in the Northeast region, 19.6%·K−1 in the Yangtze River valley, 20.4%·K−1 in the Southeast, 14.1%·K−1 in the Southwest, and 9.2%·K−1 in the Northwest, which may be limited by the relative humidity.
Therapeutic effect of fluvastatin on medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw
Authors: Sanda Koma , Ayukawa Yasunori , Yasunami Noriyuki , Adachi Naomi , Furuhashi Akihiro , Imai Mikio , Matsunaka Ken , Koyano Kiyoshi
Published: September 2021

Background

Refractory jaw osteonecrosis that occurs in osteoporotic or cancer patients treated with bisphosphonates is called medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw but its underlying mechanism is unclear. Statins, therapeutic agents for dyslipidemia, lower blood low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. Fluvastatin promotes the healing of tooth extraction sockets and reduces the risk of developing medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw‐like lesions. We used a rat model to investigate whether injecting fluvastatin at extraction sites promoted the healing of medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw‐like lesions.

Methods

Upper first molars of rats administered zoledronate and dexamethasone for 2 weeks were extracted. Two weeks after tooth extraction, rats with medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw‐like lesions (bone exposure) were included in this study. A single injection of fluvastatin was administered in the vicinity of the medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw‐like onset site in rats.

Results

The distance between the edges of the epithelia, the length of the necrotic bone exposed toward the oral cavity, the area of the necrotic bone, and the necrotic bone ratio were significantly smaller in the fluvastatin‐administered group compared with the saline group. A single application of fluvastatin near the site of medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw onset showed a tendency to close the epithelium, reduce necrotic bone, and form new bone, even when symptoms had already developed.

Conclusion

This study suggests that a single topical administration of fluvastatin may be a novel treatment for medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw.
Efficacy and economics evaluation of seed rhizome treatment combined with preplant soil fumigation on ginger soilborne disease, plant growth, and yield promotion
Authors: Yan Dongdong , Wang Qiuxia , Li Yuan , Guo Meixia , Guo Xiaoqin , Ouyang Canbin , Migheli Quirico , Xu Jin , Cao Aocheng
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is widely planted around the world. Owing to continuous planting, ginger is seriously affected by soilborne fungi, bacteria, and nematodes. Although preplant soil fumigation is an effective prevention strategy of soilborne diseases, individual fumigant and technology could not provide effective control of ginger soilborne disease. In our research, different combinations of soil fumigants and seed rhizome treatments were evaluated by monitoring the soil pathogens population, ginger growth, yield, and estimation of economic benefits.

RESULTS

Soil fumigation effectively reduced the population of soilborne pathogens, and chloropicrin had a better control effect on soilborne pathogens than dazomet did. Preplant soil fumigation and seed rhizome treatment not only provide good control of soilborne disease, but also reduced the incidence of plant foliar pest and disease. Average yield increase rate of seed rhizome treatment was 12.0%; the highest yield increase was 24.4%. The average cost of seed rhizome treatment only increased by about 2.86%, but the rate of net revenue increase for the seed rhizome treatment reached up to 19.1%.

CONCLUSION

Seed rhizome treatment is a very cost‐effective soilborne disease control technology. In the management of soilborne diseases, the combined application of soil fumigation and seed rhizome treatment can reduce the risk of crops infected by soilborne diseases and ensure high and stable crop yields. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Effect of an endo‐1,4‐β‐xylanase from wheat malt on water‐unextractable arabinoxylan derived from wheat
Authors: Peng Zhaojun , Jin Yuhong
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

Non‐starch polysaccharides in wheat are dominated by arabinoxylan (AX). Endo‐1,4‐β‐xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) is the most important enzyme for degrading AX. This paper investigated the ability of endo‐1,4‐β‐xylanase extracted from wheat malt to degrade non‐water‐extractable wheat‐derived arabinoxylan (WUAX).

RESULTS

The enzyme was observed to break down wheat‐derived WUAX effectively, substantially increasing the concentration of water‐extractable arabinoxylan (WEAX) in the system for up to 6 h. A considerable quantity of arabinose xylooligosaccharide (AXOS) was also produced, suggesting that the enzyme could produce oligosaccharides too. The molecular weight of the product WEAX was between 23 and 27 kDa and the content of oligosaccharides changed with degradation time. This suggests that endo‐1,4‐β‐xylanase can not only degrade WUAX into WEAX and xylooligosaccharides but can also degrade the xylooligosaccharides with larger molecular weights into xylobiose and xylotriose. The viscosity of the degradation product increased significantly in the first 2 h, then decreased with longer degradation times. The concentration of WEAX in the reaction system increased throughout the reaction but at gradually lower rates, indicating that the endo‐1,4‐β‐xylanase degraded WEAX better than it degraded WUAX. Rheological tests showed that solutions prepared from the WEAX that was produced had properties of a pseudoplastic fluid.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the wheat malt endo‐1,4‐β‐xylanase, which we had previously tested on WEAX, was also effective in degrading wheat‐derived WUAX. This study can therefore provide a theoretical basis for the subsequent role of the enzyme in other sources of xylan, and provide guidance for the quality control of beer in the brewing process. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Comprehensive multicomponent characterization and fingerprinting analysis of Lanqin Oral Liquid by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with ion mobility‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Wang Huimin , Hu Wandi , Wang Hongda , Wang Yuefei , Yang Wenzhi
Published: September 2021

Comprehensive characterization of the chemical constituents of Chinese patent medicine poses a great challenge due to the frustrating complexity resulting from superposition of multiple drugs. Lanqin Oral Liquid is a five‐component Chinese patent medicine widely applied to treat pharyngeal inflammation in clinic. Here, we streamline a universal three‐dimensional separation approach to efficiently identify the multicomponents from Lanqin Oral Liquid by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography/ion mobility quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and UNIFI/in‐house library‐driven automatic peak annotation. Because of the systematic optimization, the use of an HSS T3 column enabled good separation of the multiple components within 42 min, while high‐definition MSE in both the negative and positive modes could characterize more classes of herbal components, thus providing the retention, collision cross‐section, and MS information for each component. Benefiting from the ion mobility separation, cleaner MS1 and MS2 spectra were acquired. Aided by comparison and analysis of the fragmentation pathways of 49 reference compounds, we could characterize 175 compounds from Lanqin Oral Liquid. A validated high‐performance liquid chromatography fingerprinting approach unveiled good similarity (0.985–1.000) among 22 batches of commercial samples. Conclusively, we demonstrated a practical solution to elucidating the chemical composition of Chinese patent medicines, with the potential of popularization.
Phytometabolite profiling of Coronil, a herbal medicine for COVID‐19, its identification by mass‐spectroscopy and quality validation on liquid chromatographic platforms
Authors: Balkrishna Acharya , Tomer Meenu , Verma Sudeep , Joshi Monali , Sharma Priyanka , Srivastava Jyotish , Varshney Anurag
Published: September 2021

Coronil is a tri‐herbal medicine consisting of immunomodulatory herbs, Withania somnifera, Tinospora cordifolia, and Ocimum sanctum. The formulation has been developed specifically as the supporting measure for COVID‐19. Current investigation is aimed to identify the phytoconstituents in Coronil utilizing ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry coupled with quadrapole time of flight and to establish its quality standardization using high‐performance liquid chromatography and high performance thin layer chromatography. Out of 52 identified compounds, cordifolioside A, magnoflorine, rosmarinic acid, palmatine, withanoside IV, withanoside V, withanone, betulinic acid, and ursolic acid were quantified in 15 different batches of Coronil on validated high‐performance liquid chromatography method. Similarly, withanoside IV, withaferin A, magnoflorine, palmatine, rosmarinic acid, and ursolic acid were analyzed on high performance thin layer chromatography. Methods were validated as per the International Council for Harmonization guidelines. These methods were specific, reproducible, accurate, precise, linear (r2 > 0.99), and percent recoveries were within the prescribed limits. The content uniformity of Coronil was ascertained using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results indicated that, validated methods were fit for their intended use and the analytical quality of Coronil was consistent across the batches. Taken together, these developed methods could drive the analytical quality control of herbal medicines such as Coronil, and other formulations containing similar chemical profiles.
Advanced data preprocessing for comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography with vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy detection
Authors: Lelevic Aleksandra , Souchon Vincent , Geantet Christophe , Lorentz Chantal , Moreaud Maxime
Published: September 2021

Comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography with vacuum ultraviolet detection results in sizable data for which noise and baseline drift ought to be corrected. As the data is acquired from multiple channels, preprocessing steps have to be applied to the data from all channels while being robust and rather fast with respect to the significant size of the data. In this study, we have described advanced data preprocessing techniques for such data which were not available in the existing commercial software solutions and which were dedicated primarily to noise and baseline correction. Noise reduction was performed on both the spectral and the time dimension. For the baseline correction, a morphological approach based on iterated convolutions and rectifier operations was proposed. On the spectral dimension, much less noisy and reliable spectra were obtained. From a quantitative point of view, mentioned preprocessing steps significantly improved the signal‐to‐noise ratio for the analyte detection (circa six times in this study). These preprocessing methods were integrated into the plugim! platform (https://www.plugim.fr/).
Dispersive liquid‐liquid microextraction method combined with sugaring‐out homogeneous liquid‐liquid extraction for the determination of some pesticides in molasses samples
Authors: Yıldız Elif , Çabuk Hasan
Published: September 2021

In this study, a sensitive analytical method was developed to determine some pesticides (cyprodinil, trifloxystrobin, prometryn, propachlor, fenitrothion, chlorpyrifos, profenofos, and phosalone) in molasses samples. Pesticides were extracted from samples by dispersive liquid‐liquid microextraction method combined with sugaring‐out homogeneous liquid‐liquid extraction and determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. In this method, pesticides in molasses samples were first extracted using a water‐miscible solvent (acetonitrile) in the sugaring‐out homogeneous liquid‐liquid extraction stage. The sugar in the ratio of 84–88% naturally contained in the molasses sample enabled phase separation in the acetonitrile‐water homogeneous mixture. Then acetonitrile phase containing pesticides was used as dispersing solvent in the second step of the process. Under the specified optimum conditions, the limit of detection was calculated between 0.8–6.1 ng/g and the limit of quantification was in the range of 2.5–20 ng/g. The relative standard deviation values of molasses samples containing 150 ng/g of each analyte were found to be lower than 4.9% intra‐day and 5.6% for inter‐day. This validated method has been successfully applied to different types of molasses.
Untargeted metabolomics coupled with chemometric analysis deducing robust markers for discrimination of processing procedures: Wine‐processed Angelica sinensis as a case study
Authors: Yin Haoran , Ni Hui , Zhang Linlin , Wu Wenyong , Wu Xingdong , Zhang Zijia , Long Huali , Lei Min , Hou Jinjun , Wu Wanying
Published: September 2021

Wine‐processed Angelica Sinensis is a widely used Chinese medicinal decoction piece in China. However, there are hardly any robust markers indicating the processing procedure of wine‐processed Angelica Sinensis, including the amount of rice wine and processing degree. A strategy integrating untargeted metabolomics and chemometric analysis for deducing robust markers was provided and applied to the discrimination of processing procedure. First, 86 compounds were tentatively identified in wine‐processed Angelica Sinensis by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole‐time of flight mass spectrometry. Second, 93 potential chemical markers were selected using multivariate analysis, among which nine robust chemical markers were selected by verification with commercial samples. Finally, the effects of processing temperature, time, and amount of rice wine on the three selected chemical markers were investigated through a rapid analytical method. It was demonstrated that both m/z 258.1097 and 238.1189 were positively correlated with the amount of rice wine and processing degree. In summary, this study introduced two candidate processing markers as robust markers for discriminating the processing procedures of wine‐processed Angelica sinensis. It also proposed a strategy to provide the reference for the research of other decoction pieces.
Feasibility Analysis of 3D Printing With Prenatal Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Fetal Abnormalities
Authors: Liang Jixiang , Ma Qiang , Zhao Xin , Pan Guangyu , Zhang Gen , Zhu Bin , Xue Yanfang , Li Dianyuan , Lu Bingheng
Published: September 2021

Objective

To assess the feasibility and accuracy of 3D printing with prenatal three‐dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) in the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities.

Methods

Fetuses initially diagnosed with various abnormalities were included in this retrospective study. The fetuses were examined by 3DUS, modeled, and 3D printed, and the dimensional accuracy of the 3D prints was analyzed. The effectiveness, demand, necessity of 3D printing, and the diagnostic accuracy of different methods were analyzed based on questionnaire responses from 40 senior ultrasound doctors and 40 postgraduate students.

Results

A total of 12 fetuses with cleft lip and palate, spinal, heart, or brain abnormalities were included for detailed assessment. All deviations (mean deviation: 0.1 mm) between the original images and the final 3D prints lay within the consistency boundary (−1.12, 1.31 mm) (P > .05). In the subsequent analyses, 90.8% of the doctors and 94.2% of the students strongly agreed that 3D printing could precisely represent and depict fetal abnormalities. The average misdiagnosis rate of the doctors decreased from 5% to 0.4% after the application of 3D printing combined with 3DUS in comparison with 3DUS alone, and the corresponding value for the students dropped from 17.9% to 5.2%.

Conclusions

The errors in modeling and 3D printing based on 3DUS were within acceptable limits, and 3D printing improved the diagnosis of various fetal abnormalities.
High‐Frequency Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography in Quantitative Differential Diagnosis of High‐Risk and Low‐Risk Basal Cell Carcinomas
Authors: Liang Jian‐Feng , Feng Ming‐Chu , Luo Ping‐Ping , Guan Jian‐Ying , Chen Gao‐Fei , Wu Shu‐Yi , Wang Jing , Feng Mu‐Yin
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of high‐frequency ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE) in quantitative differential diagnosis of high‐risk and low‐risk basal cell carcinomas (BCCs).

Methods

A total of 52 BCCs confirmed by surgical pathology were studied. Taking pathologic subtypes as reference, all the cases were classified as high‐risk BCCs or low‐risk BCCs. High‐frequency ultrasound parameters and SWE parameters recorded preoperatively were retrospectively analyzed. The differences of two groups were compared.

Results

There were 12 high‐risk BCCs and 40 low‐risk BCCs. The maximum infiltration depth (MID) and average Young's modulus (Eave) of high‐risk BCCs were 5.76 ± 2.56 mm and 31.61 ± 12.36 kPa, whereas of low‐risk BCCs were 4.29 ± 1.77 mm and 20.04 ± 4.74 kPa, respectively, P < .05. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of MID and Eave were 0.714 and 0.811, P > .05. Taking 5.5 mm of MID and 24.45 kPa of Eave as the threshold for the diagnosis of high‐risk BCCs, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 58.3%, 82.5%, 76.9% and 75.0%, 82.5%, 80.8%, P > .05.

Conclusions

The MID and Eave of the lesion can be used to determine the recurrence risk of BCCs and provide a reference for the development of individualized treatment plans.
Shoreward intrusion of oceanic surface waters alters physical and biological ocean structures on the Antarctic continental shelf during winter: Observations from instrumented seals
Authors: Kokubun Nobuo , Tanabe Yukiko , Hirano Daisuke , Mensah Vigan , Tamura Takeshi , Aoki Shigeru , Takahashi Akinori
Published: September 2021

Ocean circulation plays a key role in structuring marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean. However, the seasonal dynamics of ocean circulation are poorly understood in the ice‐covered continental shelves due to difficulties in conducting observations. We, therefore, investigated spatial and temporal variations in oceanographic conditions and their biological effects on the continental shelf off East Antarctica (35°E–50°E) by deploying conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) tags on Weddell seals. The seals moved up to 633 km east from the tagging location. We successfully obtained 1254 CTD casts from seven seals. Winter Water (WW) was most prevalent (77.4% of the total data), followed by Supercooled Water (14.2%), Antarctic Surface Water (AASW: 7.4%), Modified Circumpolar Deep Water (mCDW; 0.9%), and Modified Shelf Water (0.1%). During our study period, landfast ice broke up extensively, and the easterly wind was most prevalent during autumn. AASW was observed in the subsurface layer over the shelf in autumn, suggesting that AASW intruded from the surface of off‐shelf areas through Ekman transport. Particular water masses (mCDW, AASW, and WW below the AASW) had positive effects on the seals' foraging behavior. These results highlight the importance of easterly wind‐driven shoreward intrusion of oceanic surface waters onto the shelf in autumn. This physical process may enhance transport and accumulation of additional prey and increase local prey availability during winter. Such a process may play important roles in the Antarctic coastal marine ecosystems that are influenced by landfast ice.
OVERCOMING US AND THEM DYNAMICS
Authors: Kriska Laura
Published: September 2021

The author, a cross‐cultural consultant, notes that organizational us and them dynamics are “defined not only by geography but by internal structures: sales versus marketing; front office versus back office; management versus non‐management. I saw how these gaps impacted employees, customers, Business‐to‐Business/B2B partners, and supplier relationships.” Her article focuses on “overcoming some of the obstacles to achieving cultural intelligence.” She describes the dynamics observed in her first job after college, working on an automobile assembly line for Honda in Marysville, Ohio. She then describes observations about organizations of all types across the globe; for instance, why many white‐collar workers consider themselves to be superior to blue collar workers. However, organizations are most successful when “employees are engaged and working toward the same goal,” and this means engagement of all types of employees, not just the highest‐compensated executives. She elaborates on such areas as equitable pay, an inclusion policy, “we‐building policy strategies,” and the following behavioral strategies: 1. Show enthusiasm for the entire team 2. Keep learning about other cultural groups 3. Prioritize cultural data before there is a crisis 4. Broaden the definition of culture 5. Bust the False Narrative that Proximity = Integration.
Preparation of PLA with High Impact‐Toughness and Reduced Internal Stress via Formation of Laminated, Bimodal Structure with Micro/Nanocells
Authors: Xiang Pei , Bi Siwen , Mei Fang , Deng Chang , Yu Dongdong , Chen Xuhang , Yu Peng
Published: September 2021

The pressure‐induced‐flow (PIF) processing method is used to fabricate oriented, self‐toughening poly(lactic acid) (PIF‐PLA) with excellent mechanical properties. However, residual internal stress in PIF‐PLA may lead to their deformation and cracking. Hence, to eliminate internal stress, solid‐state supercritical carbon dioxide foaming (sc‐CO2 foaming) is applied to PIF‐PLA, with the resultant structure being called FOAM‐PLA. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the PLAs are characterized pre‐ and post‐foaming. Scanning electron microscopy results show PIF‐PLA to exhibit oriented texture structures composed of staggered microfibers. Following sc‐CO2 foaming, the PIF‐PLA is converted into a bimodal cellular structure consisting of micro and nano‐cells. According to the 2D wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectra results, this structure of the FOAM‐PLA can, through a marginal reduction of orientation, release significant amounts of internal stress. Moreover, the impact strength of FOAM‐PLA is found to be 32.7 kJ m−2, which is 10.2 times higher than that of crystalline PLA. This paper depicts the evolution of the PLA microstructure through the stages of PIF‐processing and the subsequent solid‐state sc‐CO2 foaming. Meanwhile, the mechanism of the internal stress reduction is promoted.
Failure Mechanisms of Stretchable Perovskite Light‐Emitting Devices under Monotonic and Cyclic Deformations
Authors: Adeniji Sharafadeen , Oyewole Oluwaseun , Koech Richard , Oyewole Deborah , Cromwell Jaya , Ahmed Ridwan , Oyelade Omolara , Sanni Dahiru , Orisekeh Kingsley , Bello Abdulhakeem , Soboyejo Winston
Published: September 2021

This paper presents the results of experimental and analytical studies of the failure mechanisms of stretchable perovskite light‐emitting devices (PeLEDs). The multilayered PeLED structures consist of an anodic layer of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene‐sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), an emissive layer of methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3), and a eutectic gallium–indium (EGaIn) cathodic layer, which are deposited onto treated polydimethylsiloxane substrates. The intrinsically nonstretchable MAPbBr3 and PEDOT:PSS are modified with poly(ethylene oxide). The failure mechanisms of the layered stretchable PeLED structures are then investigated under monotonic and cyclic deformations. The optical and scanning electron microscopy images show the deflection and propagation of cracks and wrinkles under applied strains. Cracking of perovskite crystal and debonding of films are also observed with increased cyclic deformation. The effects of the failure mechanisms on the optoelectronic properties of the devices are then studied. The in situ measured transmittance of the PEDOT:PSS (≈75%) reduces with increasing uniaxial strain, and then is increased close to its initial value when the strain is released. The turn‐on voltage of the device increases with increasing number of cycles between 50 and 1000 cycles at 20% strain level. The fatigue lifetimes of the PeLED structures are used to explain the design of stretchable perovskite devices.
Small‐Diameter PLCL/PCL Nanofiber Grafted TSF Vascular Scaffolds with a Double‐Layer Structure for Vascular Tissue Engineering
Authors: Shao Weili , Cui Chen , Xiong Junpeng , Wang Ling , Zhao Xu , Hou Yijun , Chang Shuzhen , Sun Ning , Zhang Yuting , Gao Yanfei , Ni Qingqing , Liu Fan , He Jianxin
Published: September 2021

Successful construction of small‐diameter double‐layer vascular scaffolds (SDVSs) whose inner diameters are less than 1.5 mm, especially those with multilayer mimic structures, remains a challenge in vascular tissue engineering. In this study, poly(L‐lactide‐co‐caprolactone) (PLCL)/poly(Ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCL)/tussah silk fibroin (TSF) SDVSs with a double‐layer structure are prepared by one‐step method based on friction twisting core‐spun electrospinning technology. The constructed PLCL/PCL SDVSs grafted TSF have an obvious double‐layer structure; tube wall thickness 524 ± 28 µm; and inner tube diameter 1390 ± 40 µm. Compared with traditional nanofiber vascular scaffolds (TS), the axial and radial tensile strengths of PLCL/PCL SDVSs grafted TSF increase by 86% and 34%, respectively. They also show good scaffold elastic recovery and burst pressure (BP) (8505 ± 875 mmHg). Compared with the PLCL/PCL SDVSs, the inner and outer layers of PLCL/PCL SDVSs grafted TSF show good hydrophilicity and protein adsorption performance. The in vitro cell viability results indicate that the inner and outer layers of PLCL/PCL SDVSs grafted TSF show enhanced proliferation and adhesion of vein endothelial cells (VECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), respectively. Therefore, the successful preparation of PLCL/PCL SDVSs grafted TSF provides more possibilities for the clinical transplantation of small‐diameter vascular scaffolds.
Toward the Direct Synthesis of HDPE Powders for Powder Bed Fusion Based Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Wencke Yannick L. , Proes Friedrich , Imgrund Philipp , Luinstra Gerrit A.
Published: September 2021

Powder bed fusion (PBF) suitable polyethylene particles are targeted by means of a direct synthesis, using a bisimino pyridine iron catalyst (BIP FeCl2) supported on microsized silica particles. An active support is generated by treating spray dried silica microparticles with a methyl aluminoxane activated BIP FeCl2 catalyst in toluene. Semibatch ethylene polymerization is mapped with respect to pressure, temperature, and reaction time to find optimal reaction parameters. The optimized synthesis leads to round polyethylene particles with a median size of ≈50 µm which have a sinter window of 8–15 °C and an unconfined yield stress (ffc) of 1.5 in a ring shear tester. The Young modulus of injection molded samples is in the range of 150–250 Pa with an elongation at break of about 30%. The powder flowability is improved by coating with nanosilica powder to an ffc of 3.8. Additivitation with carbon black allows to laser sinter the powder to solid parts in a small scale adapted setup for selective laser sintering (PBF/laser beam (LB)/P). Severe caking is preventing the preparation of CAD model conform parts. Commercial HDPE powder for PBF is additivated the same way to give substantially solid built parts, but with similar caking.
Humidity Sensor Based on PEO/PEDOT:PSS Blends for Breath Monitoring
Authors: Assunção da Silva Edilene , Duc Caroline , Redon Natalie , Wojkiewicz Jean‐Luc
Published: September 2021

The discrimination of humidity in exhaled breath is of utmost importance to turn breath analysis into an efficient noninvasive tool for early diagnosis or treatment monitoring of several diseases. Herein, by assembling different ratios of the conductive poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate with the polymer matrix polyethylene oxide (PEO), humidity chemiresistor‐based sensors are designed and investigated. The testing results display a broad relative humidity detection range (6–92%), repeatability, reproducibility, and good reversibility. Meanwhile, the sensors possess good reliability for distinct temperatures and in the presence of typical volatile organic compounds found in human exhaled air. The hygroscopic idiosyncrasy of PEO is attributed to be the main responsible for the high sensibility toward humidity. In a proof‐of‐principle for detection of respiration humidity, the outcome shows the ability of the chemiresistors to detect the humidity variation in a real case of breath exposure up to 2 s intervals. The 30 d trial of stability readings shows a standard deviation of only 2.6%. These sensing devices appear as a new array component able to distinguish moisture from biomarkers of diagnosed diseases in breath analysis.
Allelic and genotypic frequencies of NAT2, CYP2E1, and AADAC genes in a cohort of Peruvian tuberculosis patients
Authors: Levano Kelly S. , Jaramillo‐Valverde Luis , Tarazona David D. , Sanchez Cesar , Capristano Silvia , Vásquez‐Loarte Tania , Solari Lely , Mendoza‐Ticona Alberto , Soto Alonso , Rojas Christian , Zegarra‐Chapoñan Roberto , Guio Heinner
Published: September 2021

Background

We determined the frequency of genetic polymorphisms in three anti‐TB drug metabolic proteins previously reported: N‐acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), and arylacetamide deacetylase (AADAC) within a Peruvian population in a cohort of TB patients.

Methods

We genotyped SNPs rs1041983, rs1801280, rs1799929, rs1799930, rs1208, and rs1799931 for NAT2; rs3813867 and rs2031920 for CYP2E1; and rs1803155 for AADAC in 395 participants completed their antituberculosis treatment.

Results

Seventy‐four percent of the participants are carriers of slow metabolizer genotypes: NAT2*5, NAT2*6, and NAT2*7, which increase the sensitivity of INH at low doses and increase the risk of drug‐induced liver injuries. Sixty‐four percent are homozygous for the wild‐type CYP2E1*1A allele, which could increase the risk of hepatotoxicity. However, 16% had a NAT2 fast metabolizer phenotype which could increase the risk of acquiring resistance to INH, thereby increasing the risk of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) or treatment failure. The frequency of rs1803155 (AADAC*2 allele) was higher (99.9%) in Peruvians than in European American, African American, Japanese, and Korean populations.

Conclusions

This high prevalence of slow metabolizers for isoniazid in the Peruvian population should be further studied and considered to help individualize drug regimens, especially in countries with a great genetic diversity like Peru. These data will help the Peruvian National Tuberculosis Control Program develop new strategies for therapies.
Clinicoradiographic and genetic features of cerebral small vessel disease indicate variability in mode of inheritance for monoallelic HTRA1 variants
Authors: Muthusamy Karthik , Ferrer Alejandro , Klee Eric W. , Wierenga Klaas J. , Gavrilova Ralitza H.
Published: September 2021

Background

Biallelic pathogenic variants in HTRA1 cause CARASIL. More recently, monoallelic variants have been associated with the autosomal dominant disorder CADASIL2 but not all carriers develop disease manifestations. We describe the clinicoradiologic and mutation spectrum of four new CADASIL2 individuals.

Methods

Medical records at Mayo Clinic between 2013 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients with cerebral small vessel disease related to monoallelic HTRA1 variants.

Results

Four patients met the study inclusion criteria for cerebral small vessel disease related to HTRA1 monoallelic variants. The mean age at onset of first clinical stroke was 51.25 years (range 41–64 years). The mean disease duration was 6.5 years (range 4–12). All individuals had recurrent strokes within the duration of follow‐up with a mean number of strokes per patient being 5.5 (range 2–12). Three individuals had leukoencephalopathy with brain stem involvement. Microhemorrhages were seen on brain MRI in three patients. HTRA1 monoallelic variants identified in our cohort were missense variants in three patients and a novel frameshift variation in one patient. Interestingly, two of these missense variants were previously reported in an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance and here are associated with a dominant effect.

Conclusions

Clinicoradiologic characteristics of heterozygous HTRA1‐related CSVD may overlap with sporadic CSVD. Heterozygous HTRA1 variants can contribute to dominant or recessive disease mechanisms.
Curcumin Reduces Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Alters Gut Microbiota in Diet‐Induced Obese Male Mice
Authors: Islam Tariful , Koboziev Iurii , Albracht‐Schulte Kembra , Mistretta Brandon , Scoggin Shane , Yosofvand Mohammad , Moussa Hanna , Zabet‐Moghaddam Masoud , Ramalingam Latha , Gunaratne Preethi H. , Moustaid‐Moussa Naima
Published: September 2021

Scope

Obesity prevalence continues to increase and contribute to metabolic diseases, potentially by driving systemic inflammation. Curcumin is an anti‐inflammatory spice with claimed health benefits. However, mechanisms by which curcumin may reduce obesity‐associated inflammation are poorly understood; thus, it is hypothesized that benefits of curcumin consumption may occur through reduced white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation and/or beneficial changes in gut bacteria.

Methods and Results

Male B6 mice are fed high‐fat diets (HFD, 45% kcal fat) or HFD supplemented with 0.4% (w/w) curcumin (HFC) for 14 weeks. Curcumin supplementation significantly reduces adiposity and total macrophage infiltration in WAT, compared to HFD group, consistent with reduced mRNA levels of M1 (Cd80, Cd38, Cd11c) and M2 (Arginase‐1) macrophage markers. Moreover, curcumin supplementation reduces expression of other key pro‐inflammatory genes, such as NF‐κB p65 subunit (p65), Stat1, Tlr4, and Il6, in WAT (p < 0.05). Using microbial 16S RNA sequencing, it is demonstrated that the relative abundance of the Lactococcus, Parasutterella, and Turicibacter genera are increased in the HFC group versus HFD.

Conclusions

Curcumin exerts protective metabolic effects in dietary obesity, in part through downregulation of adipose tissue inflammation, which may be mediated by alterations in composition of gut microbiota, and metabolism of curcumin into curcumin‐O‐glucuronide.
Vitamin A Deficiency during the Perinatal Period and First Weeks of Life Modifies Vitamin A and Lipid Postprandial Metabolism in Both Female and Male Young Rats
Authors: Antoine Tiffany , Borel Patrick , Govers Roland , Meiller Laure , Guichard Philippe , Halimi Charlotte , Gonzalez Teresa , Nowicki Marion , Sauvinet Valérie , Grino Michel , Reboul Emmanuelle
Published: September 2021

Scope

The effect of vitamin A deficiency on vitamin A and lipid postprandial metabolism in young rats is addressed, considering the effect of sex.

Methods and Results

Sprague‐Dawley rats are fed either 400 UI.kg−1 vitamin A diet (vitamin A‐deficient (VAD) diet) or 2300 UI.kg−1 vitamin A (control diet), before being mated. Mothers receive the same VAD or control diet during gestation and lactation. Offspring receive the same diet than mothers until 8 weeks of age. VAD diet‐fed female and male offspring display a severe vitamin A deficiency with no body weight or glucose tolerance defects. Fasting plasma triglyceride concentrations are decreased in VAD diet‐fed animals compared to controls (p < 0.05). Retinyl ester postprandial responses after vitamin A gavage, expressed as area under the curves, are not different in VAD diet‐fed and control animals, although retinyl ester postprandial peak is significantly delayed (p < 0.05) in VAD diet‐fed rats. Lipids also accumulate in the distal part of the intestine after gavage and [1‐13C]‐oleate postprandial response is decreased in VAD diet‐fed males.

Conclusion

Vitamin A deficiency modulates both vitamin A absorption rate and lipid postprandial metabolism, which can partly explain the altered fasting lipid status observed in VAD diet‐fed offspring.
The Complex ABCG5/ABCG8 Regulates Vitamin D Absorption Rate and Contributes to its Efflux from the Intestine
Authors: Antoine Tiffany , Le May Cédric , Margier Marielle , Halimi Charlotte , Nowicki Marion , Defoort Catherine , Svilar Ljubica , Reboul Emmanuelle
Published: September 2021

Scope

Most people are vitamin D insufficient around the world. Vitamin D intestinal absorption should thus be optimized. The role of the ATP‐binging cassette G5/G8 (ABCG5/G8) heterodimer in vitamin D intestinal efflux is investigated.

Methods and Results

Both cholecalciferol and 25‐hydroxycholecalciferol apical effluxes are increased by ABCG5/G8 overexpression in human Griptite cells. Mice deficient in ABCG5/G8 at the intestinal level (I‐Abcg5/g8−/− mice) display an accumulation of cholecalciferol in plasma in females and in liver in males compared to control animals. I‐Abcg5/g8−/− mice display a delay in cholecalciferol postprandial response after gavage compared with controls. 25‐Hydroxycholecalciferol transfer from plasma to lumen is observed in vivo in intestine‐perfused mice, and the lack of intestinal ABCG5/G8 complex induces a decrease in this efflux, while vitamin D bile excretion remains unchanged.

Conclusion

Overall, it is showed for the first time that the ABCG5/G8 heterodimer regulates the kinetics of absorption of dietary vitamin D by contributing to its efflux back to the lumen, and that it also participates in vitamin D transintestinal efflux.
Compact‐size quad‐band patch antenna for 5G mobile communications
Authors: AboEl‐Hassan May , Farahat Asmaa E. , Hussein Khalid F.
Published: September 2021

Compact‐size quad‐band () microstrip patch antenna is proposed for the fifth generation (5G) mobile handsets. The present paper introduces a new method to reduce the size of a 28‐GHz rhombic patch antenna so as to properly operate at the higher frequency bands () without negative effects on the antenna characteristics at 28 GHz. A novel design is introduced for the quad‐band patch antenna to include complicated radiation mechanisms required for multiple‐band operation. The proposed antenna is constructed as primary and secondary patches which are capacitively coupled and designed to realize impedance matching and to produce appropriate radiation patterns in the four frequency bands. Numerical and experimental investigations are achieved to assess the performance of the proposed antenna including the return loss, radiation patterns, and efficiency. It is shown that the simulation results agree with the experimental measurements and both show good performance. The bandwidths achieved around , , , and are about , , , and , respectively.
Detailed 1H and 13C NMR structural assignment of ent‐polyalthic acid, a biologically active labdane diterpene
Authors: Kovatch Pedro Y. , Ferreira Alexsandro E. , Ghizonni Guilherme M. L. , Ambrósio Sérgio R. , Crotti Antônio E. M. , Heleno Vladimir C. G.
Published: September 2021

In this paper, a complete 1H and 13C NMR data assignment of ent‐polyalthic acid, a biologically active labdane‐type diterpene, is presented. The assignments were carried on the basis of spectroscopic data from 1H NMR, 13C{1H} NMR, gCOSY, gHMQC, and gHMBC experiments. Furthermore, a software‐assisted methodology, using FOMSC3_rm_NB and NMR_MultSim programs, supported the detailed and unequivocal assignment of 1H and 13C signals, allowing all hydrogen coupling constants to be determined and thus clarifying all hydrogen signal multiplicities.
Generating spiral gradient waveforms with a compact frequency spectrum
Authors: Pipe James G. , Borup Daniel D.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

To generate efficient gradient waveforms for spiral MRI which mitigate the high‐frequency attenuation inherent in gradient systems.

Theory and Methods

Spiral MRI has many clinical advantages, including high temporal and SNR efficiency. One of the challenges for robust spiral MRI is a high sensitivity to imperfections in the gradient system, which requires some form of correction in order to map data correctly in k‐space. A previous numerical algorithm for generating spiral gradient waveforms was modified to reduce its high‐frequency content with minimal increase in waveform duration.

Results

Examples are shown of compact frequency gradient waveforms. Software implementing the algorithm is made available.

Conclusion

An algorithm to produce gradient waveforms with a compact frequency spectrum is described. This algorithm results in greatly reduced overall error and better compatibility with gradient systems than the original algorithm from which it was derived.