bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dirivultidae (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida) from hydrothermal vent fields in the Okinawa Trough, North Pacific Ocean, with description of one new species
Authors: Uyeno Daisuke , Kakui Keiichi , Watanabe Hiromi K. , Fujiwara Yoshihiro
Published: November 2020

Two species of dirivultid copepod (Siphonostomatoida),Stygiopontius senckenbergiIvanenko & Ferrari, 2013 andDirivultus kaikosp. nov., were discovered from hydrothermal vent fields in the Okinawa Trough, the western North Pacific. SinceS. senckenbergiwas originally described based on two adult males from the New Ireland Fore-Arc system, Papua New Guinea, the discovery here represents the second record. This species was attached on ventral setae covered with filamentous bacteria of the deep-sea squat lobsterShinkaia crosnieri(Decapoda: Munidopsidae). The female ofS. senckenbergiis described for the first time as well as the nauplius I and the copepodid IV. Sexual dimorphism is shown on several appendages (i.e. antennule, leg 2 and leg 5). The nauplius I shows typical lethithotrophic characteristics.Dirivultus kaikosp. nov., which was found on the tentacular crown of the siboglinid tubewormLamellibrachia columna, differs from its two congeners by the antennule, maxilliped and leg 5 of both sexes. These are the second and third dirivultid species to be reported from Japan.
And the Virus Rages on: “Contingent” and “Essential” Workers in the Time of COVID-19
Authors: Orleck Annelise
Published: November 2020

“It affects your nerves, your mental state, your way of thinking—because you have to be cautious in everything you do now,” Rosie said. “It's like I'm risking my life for a dollar. It's twisted.” Rosie is an Amazon worker in New York City. She made these comments during the summer of 2020 after learning that a colleague in his twenties had recently died of COVID-19.
Triaging and adaptations of surveillance of cancer services in the COVID pandemic
Authors: Lewis Shirley , Gurram Lavanya , Velu Umesh , Sharan Krishna
Published: November 2020

Introduction:

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has significantly challenged the access to cancer care and follow-up for a patient with cancer.

Methods:

Based on published literature and our experiences, it is reasonable to presume that clinical examination and follow-up visits have been significantly curtailed worldwide in order to adhere to the new norms during the pandemic. Although telephonic and telemedicine consultations may help bridge a few gaps, completely dispensing with in-person consultation has its challenges, especially in low middle-income countries. Telephonic consultations could facilitate triaging of ambulatory cancer patients and allocation of face-to-face consultations for high priority patients.

Conclusions:

We propose a telephonic consultation-based triaging approach for ambulatory cancer patients in order to identify those needing in-hospital consultations.
"Time to Try Something New" – Professionals' Experiences and Reflections on Suicide Prevention in Norway
Authors: Espeland Kristin , Knizek Birthe Loa , Hjelmeland Heidi
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Background: The suicide rate in Norway has remained relatively stable despite 25 years of government-funded suicide prevention efforts. Aim: We aimed to gather experiences of the professionals responsible for implementing suicide prevention action plans and guidelines and/or involved in relevant research. Method: We conducted semistructured interviews with 22 professionals about their reflections on the priorities and work done so far as well as where to go next. Data were analyzed by means of thematic analysis. Results: The participants described conflicting understandings and a monopolization of "the truth" within the suicide prevention community. They perceived the dominant biomedical understanding of suicidality and appurtenant approach to suicide prevention as too narrow. Thus, they found the suicide prevention work and collaboration challenging and recommend that it is time to try something new. Limitations: This study was conducted in a Norwegian context. A biomedical approach to suicide prevention is, however, common internationally. Conclusion: Participants described several challenges in the suicide prevention work. The contemporary "regime of truth" limits how suicide is understood and studied, as well as how suicide prevention is approached. A more open approach to suicide prevention, emphasizing the importance of relationships, context, and collaboration between sectors, is recommended.
A 50-Year-Old Global Warming Forecast That Still Holds Up
Authors: Lapenis Andrei
Published: November 2020

In 1972, Mikhail Ivanovich Budyko used a simple methodology to make climate predictions that remain surprisingly accurate today and that could serve as a new “business-as-usual” scenario.
Placebo response mitigation with a participant-focused psychoeducational procedure: a randomized, single-blind, all placebo study in major depressive and psychotic disorders
Authors: Cohen Elan A. , Hassman Howard H. , Ereshefsky Larry , Walling David P. , Grindell Vera M. , Keefe Richard S. E. , Wyka Katarzyna , Horan William P.
Published: November 2020

The remarkably high and growing placebo response rates in clinical trials for CNS indications, such as depression and schizophrenia, constitute a major challenge for the drug development enterprise. Despite extensive literature on participant expectancies and other potent psychosocial factors that perpetuate placebo response, no empirically validated participant-focused strategies to mitigate this phenomenon have been available. This study evaluated the efficacy of the Placebo-Control Reminder Script (PCRS), a brief interactive procedure that educates participants about factors known to cause placebo response, which was administered prior to the primary outcome assessments to subjects with major depressive or psychotic disorders who had at least moderate depression. Participants were informed they would participate in a 2-week randomized clinical trial with a 50% chance of receiving either an experimental antidepressant medication or placebo. In actuality, all participants received placebo. Participants randomly assigned to receive the PCRS (n = 70) reported significantly smaller reductions (i.e., less placebo response) in depression than those who did not receive the PCRS (n = 67). The magnitude of this effect was medium (Cohen’s d = 0.40) and was not significantly impacted by diagnostic status. The number of adverse events (i.e., nocebo effect) was also lower in the PCRS group, particularly in the first week of the study. These findings suggest that briefly educating participants about placebo response factors can help mitigate the large placebo response rates that are increasingly seen in failed CNS drug development programs.
Simultaneous evaluation of antioxidative serum profiles facilitates the diagnostic screening of autism spectrum disorder in under-6-year-old children
Authors: Hirayama Aki , Wakusawa Keisuke , Fujioka Toru , Iwata Keiko , Usui Noriyoshi , Kurita Daisuke , Kameno Yosuke , Wakuda Tomoyasu , Takagai Shu , Hirai Takaharu , Nara Takahiro , Ito Hiromu , Nagano Yumiko , Oowada Shigeru , Tsujii Masatsugu , Tsuchiya Kenji J. , Matsuzaki Hideo
Published: November 2020

This case–control study aimed to assess oxidative stress alterations in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We used the MULTIS method, an electron spin resonance-based technique measuring multiple free radical scavenging activities simultaneously, in combination with conventional oxidative stress markers to investigate the ability of this MULTIS approach as a non-behavioural diagnostic tool for children with ASD. Serum samples of 39 children with ASD and 58 age-matched children with typical development were analysed. The ASD group showed decreased hydroxyl radical (·OH) and singlet oxygen scavenging activity with increased serum coenzyme Q10 oxidation rate, indicating a prooxidative tendency in ASD. By contrast, scavenging activities against superoxide (O2·−) and alkoxyl radical (RO·) were increased in the ASD group suggesting antioxidative shifts. In the subgroup analysis of 6-year-olds or younger, the combination of ·OH, O2·−, and RO· scavenging activities predicted ASD with high odds ratio (50.4), positive likelihood (12.6), and percentage of correct classification (87.0%). Our results indicate that oxidative stress in children with ASD is not simply elevated but rather shows a compensatory shift. MULTIS measurements may serve as a very powerful non-behavioural tool for the diagnosis of ASD in children.
Diagnostic accuracy of digital breast tomosynthesis in combination with 2D mammography for the characterisation of mammographic abnormalities
Authors: Sanmugasiva Vithya Visalatchi , Ramli Hamid Marlina Tanty , Fadzli Farhana , Rozalli Faizatul Izza , Yeong Chai Hong , Ab Mumin Nazimah , Rahmat Kartini
Published: November 2020

This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of digital breast tomosynthesis in combination with full field digital mammography (DBT + FFDM) in the charaterisation of Breast Imaging-reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3, 4 and 5 lesions. Retrospective cross-sectional study of 390 patients with BI-RADS 3, 4 and 5 mammography with available histopathology examination results were recruited from in a single center of a multi-ethnic Asian population. 2 readers independently reported the FFDM and DBT images and classified lesions detected (mass, calcifications, asymmetric density and architectural distortion) based on American College of Radiology-BI-RADS lexicon. Of the 390 patients recruited, 182 malignancies were reported. Positive predictive value (PPV) of cancer was 46.7%. The PPV in BI-RADS 4a, 4b, 4c and 5 were 6.0%, 38.3%, 68.9%, and 93.1%, respectively. Among all the cancers, 76% presented as masses, 4% as calcifications and 20% as asymmetry. An additional of 4% of cancers were detected on ultrasound. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of mass lesions detected on DBT + FFDM were 93.8%, 85.1%, 88.8% and 91.5%, respectively. The PPV for calcification is 61.6% and asymmetry is 60.7%. 81.6% of cancer detected were invasive and 13.3% were in-situ type. Our study showed that DBT is proven to be an effective tool in the diagnosis and characterization of breast lesions and supports the current body of literature that states that integrating DBT to FFDM allows good characterization of breast lesions and accurate diagnosis of cancer.
A physical unclonable neutron sensor for nuclear arms control inspections
Authors: Philippe Sébastien , d’Errico Francesco
Published: November 2020

Classical sensor security relies on cryptographic algorithms executed on trusted hardware. This approach has significant shortcomings, however. Hardware can be manipulated, including below transistor level, and cryptographic keys are at risk of extraction attacks. A further weakness is that sensor media themselves are assumed to be trusted, and any authentication and encryption is done ex situ and a posteriori. Here we propose and demonstrate a different approach to sensor security that does not rely on classical cryptography and trusted electronics. We designed passive sensor media that inherently produce secure and trustworthy data, and whose honest and non-malicious nature can be easily established. As a proof-of-concept, we manufactured and characterized the properties of non-electronic, physical unclonable, optically complex media sensitive to neutrons for use in a high-security scenario: the inspection of a military facility to confirm the absence or presence of nuclear weapons and fissile materials.
A new method for isolating and analysing coccospheres within sediment
Authors: Langley Beth , Halloran Paul R. , Power Ann , Rickaby Rosalind E. M. , Chana Prabhjoat , Diver Poppy , Thornalley David , Hacker Christian , Love John
Published: November 2020

Size is a fundamental cellular trait that is important in determining phytoplankton physiological and ecological processes. Fossil coccospheres, the external calcite structure produced by the excretion of interlocking plates by the phytoplankton coccolithophores, can provide a rare window into cell size in the past. Coccospheres are delicate however and are therefore poorly preserved in sediment. We demonstrate a novel technique combining imaging flow cytometry and cross-polarised light (ISX+PL) to rapidly and reliably visually isolate and quantify the morphological characteristics of coccospheres from marine sediment by exploiting their unique optical and morphological properties. Imaging flow cytometry combines the morphological information provided by microscopy with high sample numbers associated with flow cytometry. High throughput imaging overcomes the constraints of labour-intensive manual microscopy and allows statistically robust analysis of morphological features and coccosphere concentration despite low coccosphere concentrations in sediments. Applying this technique to the fine-fraction of sediments, hundreds of coccospheres can be visually isolated quickly with minimal sample preparation. This approach has the potential to enable rapid processing of down-core sediment records and/or high spatial coverage from surface sediments and may prove valuable in investigating the interplay between climate change and coccolithophore physiological/ecological response.
Deep eutectic solvents for solid pesticide dosage forms
Authors: Phillips Justin , Focke Walter W. , du Toit Elizabeth L. , Wesley-Smith James
Published: November 2020

Deep eutectic solvents aid the formulation of solid pesticide dosage forms for water-insoluble actives. This was demonstrated by encapsulating Amitraz powder in a low-melting matrix based on the eutectic mixture of urea (32 wt%) and 1,3-dimethylurea. Dissolution in water of melt-cast discs, containing 20 wt% active, led to the rapid release of Amitraz in a finely dispersed form. The order of magnitude reduction in particle size, after dissolution, is ascribed to the solubilization of Amitraz in the hot deep eutectic solvent and its subsequent precipitation as a separate phase on crystallization of the matrix.
Depthwise microbiome and isotopic profiling of a moderately saline microbial mat in a solar saltern
Authors: Paul Varun , Banerjee Yogaraj , Ghosh Prosenjit , Busi Susheel Bhanu
Published: November 2020

The solar salterns in Tuticorin, India, are man-made, saline to hypersaline systems hosting some uniquely adapted populations of microorganisms and eukaryotic algae that have not been fully characterized. Two visually different microbial mats (termed ‘white’ and ‘green’) developing on the reservoir ponds (53 PSU) were isolated from the salterns. Firstly, archaeal and bacterial diversity in different vertical layers of the mats were analyzed. Culture-independent 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that both bacteria and archaea were rich in their diversity. The top layers had a higher representation of halophilic archaea Halobacteriaceae, phylum Chloroflexi, and classes Anaerolineae, Delta- and Gamma- Proteobacteria than the deeper sections, indicating that a salinity gradient exists within the mats. Limited presence of Cyanobacteria and detection of algae-associated bacteria, such as Phycisphaerae, Phaeodactylibacter and Oceanicaulis likely implied that eukaryotic algae and other phototrophs could be the primary producers within the mat ecosystem. Secondly, predictive metabolic pathway analysis using the 16S rRNA gene data revealed that in addition to the regulatory microbial functions, methane and nitrogen metabolisms were prevalent. Finally, stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions determined from both mat samples showed that the δ13Corg and δ15Norg values increased slightly with depth, ranging from − 16.42 to − 14.73‰, and 11.17 to 13.55‰, respectively. The isotopic signature along the microbial mat profile followed a pattern that is distinctive to the community composition and net metabolic activities, and comparable to saline mats in other salterns. The results and discussions presented here by merging culture-independent studies, predictive metabolic analyses and isotopic characterization, provide a collective strategy to understand the compositional and functional characteristics of microbial mats in saline environments.
Geological CO2 quantified by high-temporal resolution stable isotope monitoring in a salt mine
Authors: Frank Alexander H. , van Geldern Robert , Myrttinen Anssi , Zimmer Martin , Barth Johannes A. C. , Strauch Bettina
Published: November 2020

The relevance of CO2 emissions from geological sources to the atmospheric carbon budget is becoming increasingly recognized. Although geogenic gas migration along faults and in volcanic zones is generally well studied, short-term dynamics of diffusive geogenic CO2 emissions are mostly unknown. While geogenic CO2 is considered a challenging threat for underground mining operations, mines provide an extraordinary opportunity to observe geogenic degassing and dynamics close to its source. Stable carbon isotope monitoring of CO2 allows partitioning geogenic from anthropogenic contributions. High temporal-resolution enables the recognition of temporal and interdependent dynamics, easily missed by discrete sampling. Here, data is presented from an active underground salt mine in central Germany, collected on-site utilizing a field-deployed laser isotope spectrometer. Throughout the 34-day measurement period, total CO2 concentrations varied between 805 ppmV (5th percentile) and 1370 ppmV (95th percentile). With a 400-ppm atmospheric background concentration, an isotope mixing model allows the separation of geogenic (16–27%) from highly dynamic anthropogenic combustion-related contributions (21–54%). The geogenic fraction is inversely correlated to established CO2 concentrations that were driven by anthropogenic CO2 emissions within the mine. The described approach is applicable to other environments, including different types of underground mines, natural caves, and soils.
A calibrated measure to compare fluctuations of different entities across timescales
Authors: Chołoniewski Jan , Sienkiewicz Julian , Dretnik Naum , Leban Gregor , Thelwall Mike , Hołyst Janusz A.
Published: November 2020

A common way to learn about a system’s properties is to analyze temporal fluctuations in associated variables. However, conclusions based on fluctuations from a single entity can be misleading when used without proper reference to other comparable entities or when examined only on one timescale. Here we introduce a method that uses predictions from a fluctuation scaling law as a benchmark for the observed standard deviations. Differences from the benchmark (residuals) are aggregated across multiple timescales using Principal Component Analysis to reduce data dimensionality. The first component score is a calibrated measure of fluctuations—the reactivityRA of a given entity. We apply our method to activity records from the media industry using data from the Event Registry news aggregator—over 32M articles on selected topics published by over 8000 news outlets. Our approach distinguishes between different news outlet reporting styles: high reactivity points to activity fluctuations larger than expected, reflecting a bursty reporting style, whereas low reactivity suggests a relatively stable reporting style. Combining our method with the political bias detector Media Bias/Fact Check we quantify the relative reporting styles for different topics of mainly US media sources grouped by political orientation. The results suggest that news outlets with a liberal bias tended to be the least reactive while conservative news outlets were the most reactive.
Diffusion tensor imaging and arterial tissue: establishing the influence of arterial tissue microstructure on fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity and tractography
Authors: Tornifoglio B. , Stone A. J. , Johnston R. D. , Shahid S. S. , Kerskens C. , Lally C.
Published: November 2020

This study investigates diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for providing microstructural insight into changes in arterial tissue by exploring how cell, collagen and elastin content effect fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and tractography. Five ex vivo porcine carotid artery models (n = 6 each) were compared—native, fixed native, collagen degraded, elastin degraded and decellularised. Vessels were imaged at 7 T using a DTI protocol with b = 0 and 800 s/mm2and 10 isotopically distributed directions. FA and MD were evaluated in the vessel media and compared across models. FA values measured in native (p < 0.0001), fixed native (p < 0.0001) and collagen degraded (p = 0.0018, p = 0.0016, respectively) were significantly higher than those in elastin degraded and decellularised arteries. Native and fixed native had significantly lower MD values than elastin degraded (p < 0.0001) and decellularised tissue (p = 0.0032, p = 0.0003, respectively). Significantly lower MD was measured in collagen degraded compared with the elastin degraded model (p = 0.0001). Tractography yielded helically arranged tracts for native and collagen degraded vessels only. FA, MD and tractography were found to be highly sensitive to changes in the microstructural composition of arterial tissue, specifically pointing to cell, not collagen, content as the dominant source of the measured anisotropy in the vessel wall.
Natural selection on sleep duration in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Souto-Maior Caetano , Serrano Negron Yazmin L. , Harbison Susan T.
Published: November 2020

Sleep is ubiquitous across animal species, but why it persists is not well understood. Here we observe natural selection act on Drosophila sleep by relaxing bi-directional artificial selection for extreme sleep duration for 62 generations. When artificial selection was suspended, sleep increased in populations previously selected for short sleep. Likewise, sleep decreased in populations previously selected for long sleep when artificial selection was relaxed. We measured the corresponding changes in the allele frequencies of genomic variants responding to artificial selection. The allele frequencies of these variants reversed course in response to relaxed selection, and for short sleepers, the changes exceeded allele frequency changes that would be expected under random genetic drift. These observations suggest that the variants are causal polymorphisms for sleep duration responding to natural selection pressure. These polymorphisms may therefore pinpoint the most important regions of the genome maintaining variation in sleep duration.
Activity-dependent interdomain dynamics of matrix metalloprotease-1 on fibrin
Authors: Kumar Lokender , Planas-Iglesias Joan , Harms Chase , Kamboj Sumaer , Wright Derek , Klein-Seetharaman Judith , Sarkar Susanta K.
Published: November 2020

The roles of protein conformational dynamics and allostery in function are well-known. However, the roles that interdomain dynamics have in function are not entirely understood. We used matrix metalloprotease-1 (MMP1) as a model system to study the relationship between interdomain dynamics and activity because MMP1 has diverse substrates. Here we focus on fibrin, the primary component of a blood clot. Water-soluble fibrinogen, following cleavage by thrombin, self-polymerize to form water-insoluble fibrin. We studied the interdomain dynamics of MMP1 on fibrin without crosslinks using single-molecule Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET). We observed that the distance between the catalytic and hemopexin domains of MMP1 increases or decreases as the MMP1 activity increases or decreases, respectively. We modulated the activity using (1) an active site mutant (E219Q) of MMP1, (2) MMP9, another member of the MMP family that increases the activity of MMP1, and (3) tetracycline, an inhibitor of MMP1. We fitted the histograms of smFRET values to a sum of two Gaussians and the autocorrelations to an exponential and power law. We modeled the dynamics as a two-state Poisson process and calculated the kinetic rates from the histograms and autocorrelations. Activity-dependent interdomain dynamics may enable allosteric control of the MMP1 function.
Sleep, 24-h activity rhythms, and plasma markers of neurodegenerative disease
Authors: Lysen Thom S. , Ikram M. Arfan , Ghanbari Mohsen , Luik Annemarie I.
Published: November 2020

Sleep and 24-h activity rhythm disturbances are associated with development of neurodegenerative diseases and related pathophysiological processes in the brain. We determined the cross-sectional relation of sleep and 24-h activity rhythm disturbances with plasma-based biomarkers that might signal neurodegenerative disease, in 4712 middle-aged and elderly non-demented persons. Sleep and activity rhythms were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and actigraphy. Simoa assays were used to measure plasma levels of neurofilament light chain, and additionally β-amyloid 40, β-amyloid 42, and total-tau. We used linear regression, adjusting for relevant confounders, and corrected for multiple testing. We found no associations of self-rated sleep, actigraphy-estimated sleep and 24-h activity rhythms with neurofilament light chain after confounder adjustment and correction for multiple testing, except for a non-linear association of self-rated time in bed with neurofilament light chain (P = 2.5*10−4). Similarly, we observed no significant associations with β-amyloid 40, β-amyloid 42, and total-tau after multiple testing correction. We conclude that sleep and 24-h activity rhythm disturbances were not consistently associated with neuronal damage as indicated by plasma neurofilament light chain in this population-based sample middle-aged and elderly non-demented persons. Further studies are needed to determine the associations of sleep and 24-h activity rhythm disturbances with NfL-related neuronal damage.
Pedagogical questions promote causal learning in preschoolers
Authors: Daubert Emily N. , Yu Yue , Grados Milagros , Shafto Patrick , Bonawitz Elizabeth
Published: November 2020

What maximizes instructional impact in early childhood? We propose a simple intervention employing “Pedagogical Questions”. We explore whether swapping some instructional language with questions in psychosomatic storybooks improves preschoolers’ memory, learning, and generalization. Seventy-two preschoolers were randomly assigned to one of three conditions and were read storybooks employing either Direct Instruction, Pedagogical Questions, or Control content. Posttest measures of psychosomatic understanding, judgments about the possibility of psychosomatic events, and memory for storybook details showed that children in the Pedagogical Questions condition demonstrated greater memory for relevant storybook details and improved psychosomatic understanding. Our results suggest that pedagogical questions are a relatively simple educational manipulation to improve memory, learning, and transfer of theory-rich content.
Cerebellar and hepatic alterations in ACBD5-deficient mice are associated with unexpected, distinct alterations in cellular lipid homeostasis
Authors: Darwisch Warda , von Spangenberg Marino , Lehmann Jana , Singin Öznur , Deubert Geralt , Kühl Sandra , Roos Johannes , Horstmann Heinz , Körber Christoph , Hoppe Simone , Zheng Hongwei , Kuner Thomas , Pras-Raves Mia L. , van Kampen Antoine H. C. , Waterham Hans R. , Schwarz Kathrin V. , Okun Jürgen G. , Schultz Christian , Vaz Frédéric M. , Islinger Markus
Published: November 2020

ACBD5 deficiency is a novel peroxisome disorder with a largely uncharacterized pathology. ACBD5 was recently identified in a tethering complex mediating membrane contacts between peroxisomes and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). An ACBD5-deficient mouse was analyzed to correlate ACBD5 tethering functions with the disease phenotype. ACBD5-deficient mice exhibit elevated very long-chain fatty acid levels and a progressive cerebellar pathology. Liver did not exhibit pathologic changes but increased peroxisome abundance and drastically reduced peroxisome-ER contacts. Lipidomics of liver and cerebellum revealed tissue-specific alterations in distinct lipid classes and subspecies. In line with the neurological pathology, unusual ultra-long chain fatty acids (C > 32) were elevated in phosphocholines from cerebelli but not liver indicating an organ-specific imbalance in fatty acid degradation and elongation pathways. By contrast, ether lipid formation was perturbed in liver towards an accumulation of alkyldiacylglycerols. The alterations in several lipid classes suggest that ACBD5, in addition to its acyl-CoA binding function, might maintain peroxisome-ER contacts in order to contribute to the regulation of anabolic and catabolic cellular lipid pathways.
A size-tunable nanoplatform: enhanced MMP2-activated chemo-photodynamic immunotherapy based on biodegradable mesoporous silica nanoparticles
Authors: Chen Ye , Ma He , Wang Wenli , Zhang Min
Published: November 2020

An size-tunable biodegradable MSNs used for site-specific drug delivery and further enhancing chemo-photodynamic immunotherapy.
Hydrogen atom transfer in the oxidation of alkylbenzenesulfonates by ferrate(vi) in aqueous solutions
Authors: Xie Jianhui , Li Bing , Liu Huijing , Li Yijun , He Jian-Bo , Zheng Yanzhen , Lau Kai-Chung , Lau Tai-Chu
Published: November 2020

Based on the kinetic study and DFT calculations, the mechanism of the oxidation of alkylbenzenesulfonates by ferrate(VI) in aqueous solutions is found to be hydrogen atom transfer (HAT).
Controlled syntheses of Ag nanoparticles inside MOFs by using amine–borans as vapour phase reductants
Authors: Takashima Yohei , Sato Yasushi , Tsuruoka Takaaki , Akamatsu Kensuke
Published: November 2020

In this work, by using a series of amine–boranes as vapour phase reductants, we succeeded in synthesizing Ag nanoparticles in a controlled manner inside MOFs.
A chromo-fluorogenic probe for detecting water traces in aprotic solvents based on C2-symmetry dianthrimide–hydroxide complexes: experimental and theoretical studies
Authors: Uahengo Veikko , Naimhwaka Johannes
Published: November 2020

A C2-symmetry dianthrimide based probe (D) and its hydroxide complex (D-OH) are reported as a chromo-fluorogenic sensor for rapid and sensitive detection of trace amounts of water in polar aprotic solvents.
Three calibration techniques combined with sample-effective design of experiment based on Latin hypercube sampling for direct detection of lanthanides in REE-rich ores using TXRF and WDXRF
Authors: Akhmetzhanov Timur F. , Pashkova Galina V. , Chubarov Victor M. , Labutin Timur A. , Popov Andrey M.
Published: November 2020

We compared multivariate and univariate models for simultaneous detection of Ce, La, Nd, Pr, Sm in ores and nodules using TXRF and WDXRF. DoE based on Latin hypercube sampling provided a low correlation between the content of REEs in calibration set.
2D PtS nanorectangles/g-C3N4nanosheets with a metal sulfide–support interaction effect for high-efficiency photocatalytic H2evolution
Authors: Lin Bo , Zhou Yao , Xu Baorong , Zhu Chao , Tang Wu , Niu Yingchun , Di Jun , Song Pin , Zhou Jiadong , Luo Xiao , Kang Lixing , Duan Ruihuan , Fu Qundong , Liu Haishi , Jin Ronghua , Xue Chao , Chen Qiang , Yang Guidong , Varga Kalman , Xu Quan , Li Yonghui , Liu Zheng , Liu Fucai
Published: November 2020

2D PtS nanorectangles/g-C3N4nanosheets with a metal sulfide–support interaction effect achieve an ultrahigh photocatalytic H2evolution rate.
Efficient interlayer exciton transport in two-dimensional metal-halide perovskites
Authors: Magdaleno Alvaro J. , Seitz Michael , Frising Michel , Herranz de la Cruz Ana , Fernández-Domínguez Antonio I. , Prins Ferry
Published: November 2020

We show that excitons can travel >100 nm in the out-of-plane direction of 2D perovskites, translating into sub-ps interlayer transfer rates. The transport of excitons in these materials is therefore much less anisotropic than that of free carriers.
Nonlinear elastic aspects of multi-component iron oxide core–shell nanowires by means of atom probe tomography, analytical microscopy, and nonlinear mechanics
Authors: Csiszár Gábor , Solodenko Helena , Lawitzki Robert , Ma Wenhao , Everett Christopher , Csiszár Orsolya
Published: November 2020

Iron-oxides form an important class by providing potential solutions in many areas. The accurate composition- and structure analysis is crucial to describe the mechanical aspects and optimize strategy for the design of multi-component core-shell NWs.
Comparative study of aryl halides in Pd-mediated reactions: key factors beyond the oxidative addition step
Authors: Galushko Alexey S. , Prima Darya O. , Burykina Julia V. , Ananikov Valentine P.
Published: November 2020

The comparative experimental study of Ar–X (X = Cl, Br, I) reactivity and analysis reported herein suggest that oxidative addition cannot be considered the sole reason of the observed low reactivity of aryl chlorides.
Palladium-catalyzed defluorinative alkynylation of polyfluoroalkyl ketones with alkynes for the synthesis of fluorinated fused furans
Authors: Chu Xue-Qiang , Zhi Man-Ling , Zhang Si-Xuan , Wang Ya-Wen , Rao Weidong , Xu Haiyan , Shen Zhi-Liang
Published: November 2020

A Pd-catalyzed C–F bond alkynylation of polyfluoroalkyl ketones with terminal alkynes for the synthesis of fluoroalkylated fused furans was developed.
Unspecified verticality of Franck–Condon transitions, absorption and emission spectra of cyanine dyes, and a classically inspired approximation
Authors: Alia Joseph D. , Flack Joseph A.
Published: November 2020

Insight into cyanine dyeλmaxfrom quantum and classical FC principle; high accuracy with classically inspired approach.
Comparative study of young shoots and the mature red headed cabbage as antioxidant food resources with antiproliferative effect on prostate cancer cells
Authors: Drozdowska Mariola , Leszczyńska Teresa , Koronowicz Aneta , Piasna-Słupecka Ewelina , Dziadek Kinga
Published: November 2020

Young shoots of red cabbage could be a good source of phytochemicals with potential anticancer activity.
Retraction: Olefin epoxidation with chiral salen Mn(iii) immobilized on ZnPS-PVPA upon alkyldiamine
Authors: Huang J. , Qi D. W. , Cai J. L. , Chen X. H.
Published: November 2020

Retraction of ‘Olefin epoxidation with chiral salen Mn(iii) immobilized on ZnPS-PVPA upon alkyldiamine’ by J. Huang et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 19507–19514, DOI: 10.1039/C6RA00002A.
Temperature-sensitive soft microgels at interfaces: air–water versus oil–water
Authors: Bochenek Steffen , Scotti Andrea , Richtering Walter
Published: November 2020

We studied the impact of decane and air as top-phase on soft polymer networks, so-called microgels, confined at the interface.
CVD carbon-coated carbonized loofah sponge loaded with a directionally arrayed MXene aerogel for electromagnetic interference shielding
Authors: Li Songtao , Wang Jiashun , Zhu Zhengwang , Liu Dongyan , Li Wanchong , Sui Guoxin , Park Chul B.
Published: November 2020

Composites constructed from CVD carbon-coated carbonized loofah sponge and directionally arrayed MXene aerogels exhibit excellent electromagnetic shielding performance and conductivity.
Integrated selective nitrite reduction to ammonia with tetrahydroisoquinoline semi-dehydrogenation over a vacancy-rich Ni bifunctional electrode
Authors: Wang Changhong , Zhou Wei , Sun Zhaojun , Wang Yuting , Zhang Bin , Yu Yifu
Published: November 2020

Ni nanosheet arrays with Ni vacancies exhibited outstanding electrocatalytic performances toward selective nitrite reduction to ammonia and semi-dehydrogenation of tetrahydroisoquinolines.
Recent progress in energy storage and conversion of flexible symmetric transducers
Authors: Lu Chao , Chen Xi
Published: November 2020

Flexible symmetric transducers with diverse smart functions are emerging as promising candidates for fifth-generation smart and wearable terminals.
Melanin pigments extracted from horsehair as antibacterial agents
Authors: Rahmani Eliato Tahmineh , Smith Joshua T. , Tian Zhen , Kim Eun-Sik , Hwang Wonseok , Andam Cheryl P. , Kim Young Jo
Published: November 2020

Here we present the important findings related to biologically derived pigments for potential use as antibacterial agents.
Black titanium dioxide@manganese dioxide for glutathione-responsive MR imaging and enhanced photothermal therapy
Authors: Gao Yang , Yin Zhibin , Ji Qian , Jiang Jiabing , Tao Zhengzheng , Zhao Xiaolong , Sun Sijia , Wu Aiguo , Zeng Leyong
Published: November 2020

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) coated black commercial P25 titanium dioxide (b-P25) for glutathione (GSH)-responsive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and enhanced photothermal therapy (PTT).
CsPbI3 nanocrystal films: towards higher stability and efficiency
Authors: Tang Yingying , Lesage Arnon , Schall Peter
Published: November 2020

A review on strategies to improve stability, optical properties and device efficiency of red-perovskite nanocrystal layers.
Carnosine alleviates diabetic nephropathy by targeting GNMT, a key enzyme mediating renal inflammation and fibrosis
Authors: Liu Xue-qi , Jiang Ling , Lei Lei , Nie Zhen-yong , Zhu Wei , Wang Sheng , Zeng Han-xu , Zhang Shi-qi , Zhang Qiu , Yard Benito , Wu Yong-gui
Published: November 2020

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes and the main cause of end-stage nephropathy (ESRD). Inflammation and fibrosis play key roles in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. By using in vivo and in vitro DN models, our laboratory has identified the protective role of carnosine (CAR) on renal tubules. Our results showed that carnosine restored the onset and clinical symptoms as well as renal tubular injury in DN. Furthermore, carnosine decreased kidney inflammation and fibrosis in DN mice. These results were consistent with high glucose (HG)-treated mice tubular epithelial cells (MTECs). Using web-prediction algorithms, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and molecular docking, we identified glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) as a carnosine target. Importantly, we found that GNMT, a multiple functional protein that regulates the cellular pool of methyl groups by controlling the ratio of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), was down-regulated significantly in the serum of Type 1 DM patients and renal tissues of DN mice. Moreover, using cultured TECs, we confirmed that the increased GNMT expression by transient transfection mimicked the protective role of carnosine in reducing inflammation and fibrosis. Conversely, the inhibition of GNMT expression abolished the protective effects of carnosine. In conclusion, carnosine might serve as a promising therapeutic agent for DN and GNMT might be a potential therapeutic target for DN.
Identification and analysis of circRNA–miRNA–mRNA regulatory network in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Daxiang , Dong Ling , Yang Lishan , Ma Qiang , Liu Feng , Li Yanjie , Xiong Shu
Published: November 2020

This study was to identify important circRNA–miRNA–mRNA (ceRNAs) regulatory mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The circRNA dataset GSE97332 and miRNA dataset GSE57555 were used for analyses. Functional enrichment analysis for miRNA and target gene was conducted using cluster Profiler. Survival analysis was conducted through R package Survival. The ceRNAs and drug–gene interaction networks were constructed. The ceRNAs network contained five miRNAs including hsa‐miR‐25‐3p, hsa‐miR‐3692‐5p, hsa‐miR‐4270, hsa‐miR‐331‐3p, and hsa‐miR‐125a‐3p. Among the network, hsa‐miR‐25‐3p targeted the most genes, hsa‐miR‐3692‐5p and hsa‐miR‐4270 were targeted by more circRNAs than other miRNAs, hsa‐circ‐0034326 and hsa‐circ‐0011950 interacted with three miRNAs. Furthermore, target genes, including NRAS, ITGA5, SLC7A1, SEC14L2, SLC12A5, and SMAD2 were obtained in drug–gene interaction network. Survival analysis showed NRAS, ITGA5, SLC7A1, SEC14L2, SLC12A5, and SMAD2 were significantly associated with prognosis of HCC. NRAS, ITGA5, and SMAD2 were significantly enriched in proteoglycans in cancer. Moreover, hsa‐circ‐0034326 and hsa‐circ‐0011950 might function as ceRNAs to play key roles in HCC. Furthermore, miR‐25‐3p, miR‐3692‐5p, and miR‐4270 might be significant for HCC development. NRAS, ITGA5, SEC14L2, SLC12A5, and SMAD2 might be prognostic factors for HCC patients via proteoglycans in cancer pathway. Taken together, the findings will provide novel insight into pathogenesis, selection of therapeutic targets and prognostic factors for HCC.
INSPIRE: INvestigating Stellar Population In RElics
Authors: Spiniello C. , Tortora C. , D’Ago G. , Coccato L. , La Barbera F. , Ferré-Mateu A. , Napolitano N. R. , Spavone M. , Scognamiglio D. , Arnaboldi M. , Gallazzi A. , Hunt L. , Moehler S. , Radovich M. , Zibetti S.
Published: November 2020

Context. Massive elliptical galaxies are thought to form through a two-phase process. At early times (z >  2), an intense and fast starburst forms blue and disk-dominated galaxies. After quenching, the remaining structures become red, compact, and massive (i.e. red nuggets). Then, a time-extended second phase, which is dominated by mergers, causes structural evolution and size growth. Given the stochastic nature of mergers, a small fraction of red nuggets survive, without any interaction, massive and compact until today: these are relic galaxies. Since this fraction depends on the processes dominating the size growth, counting relics at low-z is a valuable way of disentangling between different galaxy evolution models.

Aims. In this paper, we introduce the INvestigating Stellar Population In RElics (INSPIRE) Project, which aims to spectroscopically confirm and fully characterise a large number of relics at 0.1 <  z <  0.5. We focus here on the first results based on a pilot study targeting three systems, representative of the whole sample.

Methods. For these three candidates, we extracted 1D optical spectra over an aperture of r = 0.40″, which comprises ∼30% of the galaxies’ light, and we obtained the line-of-sight integrated stellar velocity and velocity dispersion. We also inferred the stellar [α/Fe] abundance from line-index measurements and mass-weighted age and metallicity from full-spectral fitting with single stellar population models.

Results. Two galaxies have large integrated stellar velocity dispersion values (σ⋆ ∼ 250 km s−1), confirming their massive nature. They are populated by stars with super-solar metallicity and [α/Fe]. Both objects have formed ≥80% of their stellar mass within a short (∼0.5−1.0 Gyr) initial star formation episode occurred only ∼1 Gyr after the Big Bang. The third galaxy has a more extended star formation history and a lower velocity dispersion. Thus we confirm two out of three candidates as relics.

Conclusions. This paper is the first step towards assembling the final INSPIRE catalogue that will set stringent lower limits on the number density of relics at z <  0.5, thus constituting a benchmark for cosmological simulations, and their predictions on number densities, sizes, masses, and dynamical characteristics of these objects.
Mapping the Characteristics of Snow Cover in Belarus
Authors: Meshyk Aleh , Marozava Viktoryia , Barushka Maryna
Published: November 2020

The paper substantiates a necessity to create maps of snow cover characteristics in Belarus. The designed maps can be used by engineers to forecast spring floods on the rivers of Belarus and to assign snow load limits imposed on buildings and structures.
High-performance electric arc source of ultraviolet radiation to ozone generate
Authors: Veremeychik Andrey , Dmukhaylo Evgeny , Onysko Sergey , Sazonov Mikhail , Khvisevich Vitaly
Published: November 2020

Studies of electric arc сombustion in the swirling flow of a cylindrical discharge chamber of a plasma torch at oxygen consumption of 10-160 g/s are carried out. It is established that the electric field strength is constant along the channel at the initial section of the arc, and the length of this section is determined. On the basis of the similarity theory in a wide range of changes in the parameters of the plasma torch, methods for determining the electric field strength of the arc and the length of the initial section are obtained. The length of the plasma torch is calculated, which mainly includes the length of the initial section, where the voltage is constant, and the current-voltage characteristics. The design of the plasma torch was created. Theoretical studies of near-electrode processes at the cathode and anode were carried out, on the basis of which electrode materials were selected and cathode and anode structures were created that provide high thermal efficiency and service life of the plasma torch. The developed plasma torch can be used as a highly efficient arc source of ultraviolet radiation for generating ozone, for heating oxygen, as well as in metallurgy, chemical industry, for example, the production of titanium dioxide and ozonation.
Scheme of soil stability losses in the laboratory tray
Authors: Kremnev Alexander , Vishnyakov Nikolay , Ermachenko Victoria
Published: November 2020

The object of the research is the diagram of the stability loss of the soil foundation. Currently, there are still discussions about how the stability of the subgrade undergoes the combined action of vertical and horizontal loads. Most often, in the calculation, the sliding surface is taken to be circular. Whether this is true, especially for a heterogeneous or anisotropic base, is an important question today. In the work, chute tests were carried out, with modeling of the scheme of loss of stability of anisotropic and isotropic bases and results were obtained that confirm the formation of a circular cylindrical sliding surface.
Shear resistance of self-stressing concrete elements expanded under 2D restraint conditions
Authors: Tur Viktar , Sannikava Volha
Published: November 2020

An analytical design model for estimation the shear resistance of plane self-stressing concrete elements with orthogonal reinforcement is presented. The design model is based on the strut-and-tie model concept and takes into consideration the restrained expansion strains and selfstresses as a result of self-stressing concrete expansion. The results of theoretical investigations were finally compared to the experimental ones showing the suitability of proposed design method.
Determination of automobile alternator faults using harmonic analysis of external magnetic field
Authors: Puzakov Andrey
Published: November 2020

Evaluation of the external magnetic field parameters allows determining the technical condition of the automobile alternator with minimum labour intensity and sufficient informativity. However, measurement of the external magnetic field magnitude with Hall sensor doesn’t allow expressly recognizing an occurring fault. It has been established that the spectral decomposition of external magnetic field oscillogram significantly increases informativity of this diagnostic parameter. Indicating harmonics, which extreme value allows identifying the technical condition of the automobile alternator, are distinguished. The article materials can be used for further development and implementation of the automobile alternator diagnostics based on the parameters of the external magnetic field.
Development of solid anti-friction elements for greasing the ridges of locomotive wheel pairs
Authors: Maiba Igor , Maiba Vita , Glazunov Dmitry
Published: November 2020

Design work was carried out to develop solid anti – friction elements for greasing the ridges of locomotive wheel pairs (hereinafter referred to as TAEL rods). The results of laboratory bench and operational tests of TAEL rods were obtained in accordance with the procedure for admission of lubricants for the wheel-rail contact to use in grebnesmazyvatelyami lo-comotives operated on the Railways of the Russian Federation . Based on the test results, the developed TAEL rods were approved for use on the infrastructure of Russian Railways.